2024's Least Reliable Cars, According To Consumers

2024's Least Reliable Cars, According To Consumers

2024 was a great year for the electric and hybrid vehicle industry, but that didn't stop consumers from ranking four as their least reliable vehicles in 2024. Whether this was down to a lack of end-user understanding of how to properly utilize the efficacy of hybrids, poor marketing or explanation upon delivery to the consumer, or indeed poor performance and bad engineering practices, they still sucked, according to consumers.

Ford F-150 Lightning

The Ford F-150 Lightning represented a huge step for Ford in 2024—a dedicated all-electric platform that seemed to have a truck designed around it. Though it was groundbreaking and widely loved by consumers—mostly for its speed, tow capacity, and extra storage—it was still lacking in a few areas. These included battery life—it fell off a cliff by 2/3 once you started towing something—very heavy batteries that limited its payload, and you didn't get many trappings in the cab for your money. Overall, consumers gave it a reliability of 30 out of 100.

Jonathan Weiss, Shutterstock

Volkswagen ID.4

The Volkswagen ID.4 showed great promise for VW's entry into the hybrid/all-electric sedan market. But that promise turned to pain once consumers actually started driving it. Once they did, it turned up issues all over the place. Faulty battery software meant its electric engine was unreliable, poor weather sealing caused water damage, door handles flew open unexpectedly! There were multiple recalls on the vehicle throughout the year, leading to a 29 out of 100 reliability score.

M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Genesis G70

Another car that had much to say once it entered the market, then floundered shortly thereafter is the Genesis G70. The G70 was great for a few months for most new buyers—and then the issues started. Recalls were issued for cracked turbochargers leaking oil onto a hot exhaust manifold, posing a fire risk. There's also a class-action lawsuit underway which claims that the paint and clear coat prematurely weakens and peels right off in your hands. Oops. Genesis drivers gave the G70 a 28 out of 100 reliability score.

Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler was absolutely awful for some people right from the start. While those people may have been using the Wrangler as their daily driver, apparently the 2024 Wrangler lacked comfort, a decent fuel economy (at just 24 mpg in hybrid mode), and any sort of luxuriousness in the interior. There was also reportedly an issue where the Wrangler could experience a sudden loss of motor power. Its reliability score was just 27 out of 100.

Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nissan Frontier

The Final Frontier? Possibly. The 2024 Nissan Frontier left much to be desired among consumers who wanted more from the mid-size pickup. The Frontier's issues have been numerous, including with the transmission, body (paint peeling), and electrical systems which caused consumers to outright reject the new Frontier this year—scoring it at 26 out of 100 for reliability.

Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Maybe a better question might be, what did consumers like about the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee? Not much, apparently. It was noisy when downshifting and braking, leaking oil due to a porous transmission housing—oh, and it had a huge fire risk recall in October. So serious was the risk that Jeep advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to tell consumers that "they should park their car outside, away from other structures and vehicles". The Grand Cherokee's reliability score was just 22 out of 100.

Jonathan Weiss, Shutterstock

Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The long wheelbase version of the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee didn't fare any better than its shorter sister SUV. The long wheelbase version was plagued with electronic issues, including lights going on and off, check engine lights randomly turning on, and a whole host of other issues. Despite not being recalled for a fire hazard, there was a recall issued due to a control arm that was compromised on some models. Like its shorter sister, the Grand Cherokee L scored a 22 out of 100 for reliability.

Benespit, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ford Escape Hybrid

The 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid might have had consumers wishing they could escape it. The Escape had issues from a cold start, where users would report rattling and squeaking noises, mostly coming from the vehicle's drivetrain. While the Escape Hybrid may be a very capable SUV in some respects, its reliability rating was just 21 out of 100. 

Jonathan Weiss, Shutterstock

Rivian R1T

Despite being one of the best-performing electric vehicles of 2024, the Rivian R1T was not without its reliability issues. Build quality and ride quality aren't the greatest, with consumers expecting better from a vehicle with air suspension. Also, consumers aren't able to connect either their Android or Apple devices to the car's interior entertainment system, as neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are supported. Instead, you have to get creative with entertainment solutions. Rivian's reliability rating is just 20 out of 100.

Rivian, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chevrolet Colorado

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado fell victim to the same ills as the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Colorado received multiple reports of incredible design failures that left owners very upset. Including: roof caving in from car wash blowers, engine recall due to cracked housing, and brake control modulator malfunctions. To put it mildly, the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado was an absolute disaster for many drivers, earning it a paltry 15 out of 100 for reliability.

RL GNZLZ, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

GMC Canyon

Another truck made by the Detroit legacy manufacturer that failed to live up to expectations in 2024 was the GMC Canyon. Over 13,000 Canyons were recalled due to a malfunction with the headlights that caused them to flicker when the vehicle was driving or parked. A plethora of software issues plagued the infotainment system on the Canyon, too, causing glitches that affected the vehicle's headlights, fog lights, radio, and cameras, which were all controlled by the infotainment system. These issues caused GMC to discontinue the Canyon and it received a 15 out of 100 reliability rating from consumers.

Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ford F-150 Hybrid

This may be because people look at it and think, "Huh? A hybrid truck? But... why?" That's a fair criticism, but Ford's F-150 hybrid still didn't sit right with truck owners, who may have been looking for an all-capable behemoth of a vehicle they've come to expect from Ford trucks. The hybridity offered a setback in performance that wasn't acceptable to many. Thus, the Ford F-150 Hybrid received a reliability score of just 7 out of 100.

Deathpallie325, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Tesla Recalls Galore

While the Ford F-150 Hybrid may have taken the proverbial cake when it comes to reliability, Tesla has to be in contention for the most recalled vehicle in 2024. And what could be more of an indictment of a lack of reliability than a car that's never on the road? In January, Tesla issued a recall for 2.1 million vehicles due to an incorrect font size on the instrument panel for braking, parking, and ABS systems. Then, 1.85 million vehicles were recalled due to the hood opening spontaneously. There have been six recalls alone on the CyberTruck, including one for a sudden loss of motor power. It's fair to say that a Tesla may well be 2024's least reliable vehicle.

Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons