15 Cars That Break Down Faster Than the Average Vehicle
When deciding on a new car, there are many factors one should consider besides price. One of the most important is the reliability of the vehicle in question. How often does it break down? How costly is the routine maintenance? How expensive are its replacement parts? These are some of the questions a potential buyer should know the answers to before signing any paper.
Some brands are notorious for breaking down more often than others. The problem of unreliability affects both gas-powered cars and electric vehicles. Even mainstream cars and luxury car models have their fair share of issues.
According to RepairPal, an average car makes an unscheduled visit to a repair shop 0.4 times a year. That said, here are 15 cars that break down faster than the average vehicle.
Chrysler
According to a study by J. D. Power, Chrysler has 226 problems per 100 vehicles. This places the automaker among the least dependable car brands. Likewise, Consumer Reports gives Chrysler a predicted reliability score of 18 out of 100.
The most common problem with Chrysler cars is issues with its automatic transmission. In a year, Chrysler owners spend an average of $608 for routine maintenance and unscheduled repairs.
Chevrolet
In its 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, J. D. Power reported that Chevrolet had 162 problems per 100 vehicles. In RepairPal’s reliability rating, Chevrolet scores 3.5 out of 5.0. That's not bad, but the percentage of Chevys that visit repair shops for serious repairs is higher than average.
A Consumer Reports study, however, gave the American brand a score of 43 on a predicted reliability scale of 1 to 100.
Volkswagen
In Volkswagen's long history of making cars, it has some remarkable vehicles on the market. However, it also has its fair share of reliability issues, which earns it a spot on this list.
According to RepairPal, an average Volkswagen visits a repair shop a little too often compared to the industry average. A recent study by J. D. Power also shows that Volkswagen has 241 problems per 100 vehicles.
Jeep
Jeep’s lineup of cars boasts some of the toughest and most capable offroaders in the game. But they also break down faster than the average car.
According to J. D. Power, Jeeps have 200 problems per 100 vehicles. They also have a higher-than-average probability of visiting the repair shop for severe issues. That is hardly surprising, considering the number of recalls and owner complaints about many Jeeps.
Volvo
Volvo has a reputation for building strong and durable cars. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0. It also ranked 17th out of 32.
On the flip side, Volvo owners spend more than the average annual repair costs for the industry. They also visit the repair shop more than the industry average. The good thing is that the visits are more likely for minor problems.
Ford
Although Ford sells more trucks than other brands, it also has reliability issues. Consumer Reports assigned the Blue Oval brand a predicted reliability rating of 40 out of 100, while J. D. Power reported that Ford had 249 problems per 100 cars.
Ford also has one of the highest NHTSA recall rates in the industry. And at $775, the average annual cost of maintaining and repairing a Ford is higher than the industry average.
Tesla
The 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study shows that Tesla has 242 problems per 100 cars. This is not surprising, considering the complex innovative systems in Tesla vehicles. There are too many things that can go wrong.
Maintenance and repair costs are above average and set owners back by $832 every year. With a score of 48 out of 100, Tesla ranks 14th on Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability scale.
GMC
GMC vehicles are expensive to keep in good working shape. They cost owners about $744 in yearly scheduled maintenance and unscheduled repairs. Also, 17 percent of GMC repairs are severe, and according to J. D. Power, GMC records 201 problems for every 100 vehicles. It slots between Jeep and BMW in the bottom half of the ranking.
Consumer Reports ranks GMC 24th out of 30 for predicted reliability.
Lincoln
Like most other luxury brands, Lincoln also has many reliability issues. It got a predicted reliability rating of 38 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. Lincoln did not fare too well in J. D. Power’s dependability study. The study showed that Lincolns have 259 problems for every 100 cars.
RepairPal shows that an average Lincoln gulps $879 in annual maintenance and repairs and that 15 percent of the repairs are severe.
Rivian
Although Rivian builds jaw-dropping electric vehicles packed with cutting-edge technology, it has many reliability issues as well. This earned it a predicted reliability score of 24 out of 100 from Consumer Reports and ranks it 28th out of 30 brands.
J. D. Power did not rank Rivian in the 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study. However, the study shows that Rivian, alongside Tesla, has 266 problems per 100 vehicles.
Range Rover
Range Rover is a premium SUV brand that costs owners money long after the initial purchase. It costs an average of $1,258 in annual repairs and maintenance. That is more than the average of $1,127 for similar vehicles.
The probability of visiting a mechanic for severe repair is also higher for Range Rover owners. RepairPal gives the brand a reliability rating of 2.0 out of 5.0.
Dodge
On average, Dodge vehicles are not too costly to maintain. They have an annual maintenance and repair cost of about $634 compared to the industry average of $652. Dodge also has a RepairPal reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0.
However, Consumer Reports ranks it 21st out of 30 for predicted reliability and J. D. Power ranks Dodge last in the 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The study shows that Dodge has 301 problems per 100 vehicles.
Audi
Owners of Audi cars enjoy some of the latest technologies in the industry. But it comes at a cost of $335 above the industry average annual maintenance cost. Audis visit repair shops twice as much as an average car.
According to J. D. Power, the brand averages 242 problems per 100 vehicles. It doesn't do too well on Consumer Reports' predicted reliability rating either. A score of 43 out of 100 placed it in the 19th position.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo’s fancy cars are not the cheapest to maintain. They cost an average of $834 in annual maintenance and repairs. The car’s age and the shop also contribute to the overall ownership costs. That is hardly surprising, given Alfa Romeos have 226 problems per 100 vehicles, according to a J. D. Power study.
The study shows that Alfa Romeos break down faster than the average car.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz cars are reputable for luxury and high-tech features but are also notorious for many reliability issues. This earns the German auto builder a low predicted reliability rating of 23 out of 100 by Consumer Reports.
According to J. D. Power, Mercedes-Benz has 206 problems per 100 vehicles, the same number BMW has. For this reason, the average Mercedes-Benz is a frequent visitor at the repair shop for unscheduled repairs.
