42 Used Cars to Avoid Buying

Buyers should steer clear of these models with below-average reliability

Volkswagen Taos

By Consumer Reports

Used cars are typically a good value purchase because the first owner usually takes the biggest hit on depreciation, which is the rate at which the vehicle loses value. This means that if you buy a 3- or 5-year-old used car, it’s already gone through the steepest part of the depreciation curve.

However, no matter how low its price, an unreliable car is never a good value. If you aren’t careful with your research, you can end up with a used car, minivan, pickup truck, or SUV that costs you more in repairs than you paid for it. In fact, you may spend so much on repairs that you could have bought a newer model with more features and fewer miles, and in better condition. (Learn more about buying a used car now.)

How do you know which used cars to avoid? Well, that’s where Consumer Reports’ auto experts come in.

We collect data from members in our Annual Auto Surveys, allowing us to compare the number of problems a model has experienced with the average problem rate for all vehicles of the same model year. From this, we can identify which models and model years to avoid and provide details on the reasons.

To reduce your risk of experiencing costly, inconvenient problems, focus on these 56 Best Used Cars that performed well in our road tests when new and have proved to be reliable.

CR members can click through the model links below for full reliability details, pricing, and much more.

See the Used Car Top Picks and Which Brands Make the Best Used Cars?

Worst Used Cars

Listed alphabetically by make and model, these 42 vehicles have a record of much worse-than-average reliability based on member responses to our Annual Auto Surveys.

Make and Model
Year(s) to Avoid

Audi A6
2019

BMW iX
2023

Cadillac XT5
2025

Chevrolet Blazer EV
2024

Chevrolet Bolt
2021

Chevrolet Colorado
2025

Chevrolet Equinox
2025

Chevrolet Suburban
2021

Chevrolet Tahoe
2021

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2018-2024

Dodge Grand Caravan
2016

Ford Bronco Sport
2021

Ford Escape Hybrid
2020-2021, 2023

Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid
2022-2023

Ford Expedition
2018-2019

Ford Explorer
2020

Ford F-150 Hybrid
2022-2023

Genesis GV60
2024-2025

GMC Acadia
2024-2025

GMC Canyon
2025

GMC Terrain
2025

GMC Yukon
2021

GMC Yukon XL
2021

Honda Prologue
2024

Hyundai Ioniq 5
2023

Jeep Wrangler
2016, 2019, 2021-2022

Kia EV6
2024

Kia EV9
2024-2025

Lincoln Aviator
2020

Mazda CX-70 Plug-in Hybrid
2025

Mazda CX-90
2024

Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid
2024-2025

Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2019

Mercedes-Benz GLE
2020, 2025

Mini Cooper
2017

Mini Cooper Clubman
2017

Ram 1500
2025

Rivian R1T
2022-2024

Tesla Cybertruck
2024

Tesla Model S
2021

Toyota Tundra
2022

Volkswagen Taos
2022-2023

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