A Costly Mistake

We’ve all splurged on something that didn’t live up to the hype—but at least most bad buys don’t follow you around on four wheels. These cars, though? They’ll haunt your driveway with endless breakdowns and bills that just won’t quit.

A What-Was-I-Thinking Moment

Owning a car with serious flaws can lead to annoyance and regret. Some models are so bad that people forget why they liked them in the first place. From unreliable transmission to leaks and constant maintenance, these problems remind us that looks aren't everything.

MART PRODUCTION, Pexels

Range Rover

The Range Rover is often considered the top luxury SUV, but its reliability can be a nightmare. Although some owners quickly praise how well it drives off-road and how much they love the cushy interior, others are plagued with constant visits to the garage.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The High Cost Of Prestige

Having a luxury SUV feels great until the repair bills start mounting. Range Rover owners complain about engine failures and electrical issues, calling it "a ride that can empty your wallet faster than you can say luxury." But this isn't the only case of something too good to be true.

M 93, Wikimedia Commons

Jaguar F-Type Has Beauty With Baggage

Thrilling to drive and gorgeous to look at, the Jaguar F-Type has a poor reputation for reliability. Later models improved on this issue, but the problems left their mark on this one. It's a car that makes an elegant statement but perhaps think twice before committing.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Love Affair On The Outs

Owning a Jaguar F-Type is like dating someone way out of your league—thrilling, glamorous, and just a little dangerous. The driving experience is undeniably breathtaking, but those early models came with a reputation for reliability headaches. The real question is: is the rush of a Jag worth the drama that comes with it?

Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ford Focus Is Fun To Drive Until It Breaks

The Ford Focus, especially those models with the PowerShift transmission, promises to deliver a fun and peppy drive. But that transmission can turn your fun into an ongoing headache. The car will stutter, slip, and stop suddenly, literally leaving you in the lurch.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Transmission Troubles

This same PowerShift transmission has ruined the Focus' chance of being a reliable ride. The frequent repairs often fail to fix the problem, as reported by numerous owners. A Focus with a manual transmission can be a great buy; just stay away from the automatic model. 

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kia Stinger For Style But Not Substance

The Kia Stinger has a sleek design and sporty handling but falls short when it comes to preserving the brand's reputation. Owners are unhappy because they don't get the level of dealership service that should come part and parcel with a stylish car.

Motor Verso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Brand Dilemma

Car owners feel that if a vehicle is advertised as a high-performance and stylish ride, they expect staff at the dealership to be attentive and gracious when the car comes in with a problem. Drivers are convinced that the Kia Stinger's "badge" might be its biggest problem. 

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

Toyota Supra 2023

Sports car fans were buzzing about the 2023 Toyota Supra—but the excitement didn’t last long. Early owners ran into frustrating clutch issues, only to find Toyota wouldn’t cover the repairs under warranty. Before long, the dream ride started feeling more like a headache on wheels, leaving many drivers wondering if it was worth the hype.

Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Clutch Conundrum

Complaints reported the 2023 Supra's clutch issues to be more than an inconvenience; owners called it a deal-breaker. Imagine being stuck with a sports car that refuses to start on a hot day because of a clutch failure. What good is a car that doesn't work?

Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

BMW E60 M5 Has The Heart Of A V10 Beast

The BMW E60 M5 has a powerful engine that is a dream when it's running. But say the engine is too often particular about when it runs. Having a car with reliability issues can be exhausting on your schedule and draining on your bank account.

Hatsukari715, Wikimedia Commons

Perfection Spoiled By Problems

The E60 M5 has a known issue where the rod bearings wear out relatively quickly, and if they're not replaced, it can lead to catastrophic engine failure. Owners have to replace these bearings as part of their regular maintenance—a big disappointment for a car of this caliber.

nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mazda RX8 The Rotary Engine That Couldn't

The Mazda RX8's rotary engine is seen as both a charm and a curse. Although it has outstanding high-revving power, it's also prone to failures and sometimes needs to be rebuilt every 40,000 miles. Could it be that this fun ride just can't go the distance?

FotoSleuth, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Love-Hate Relationship

Mazda RX-8 owners often sum it up best: amazing to drive, a nightmare to maintain. The rotary engine delivers a unique thrill behind the wheel—but it also demands constant care and attention. And when those repair bills keep piling up, the excitement quickly gives way to frustration.

crash71100, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Turbo Trouble With Mazda CX-7

It's a brilliant idea to put a turbocharged engine into a sporty crossover, but less awesome when the turbo fails. Mazda CX-7 owners reported having to pay for costly repairs for turbo problems, leaving them severely disappointed in the car's overall quality.

crash71100, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Luxury That Leaks In Audi A4 (2017)

The 2017 Audi A4 lives up to its promise of providing a luxury drive but has terrible problems with leaking fluids. Continuously dealing with missing coolant and replacing transmission fluid is both a hassle and an expense. These cars are too high-maintenance and not worth the trouble.

EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Looks Aren't Everything For The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

A simply stunning roadster, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has reliability issues that make you forget its top-notch performance. Owners warn that problems with the rear differential make it a risky purchase. And the faults don't stop there. 

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

An Unreliable Companion

The Giulia Quadrifoglio is pretty much the dream car until problems start popping up. Be ready for anything from electronic glitches to problems with the rear differential. No one needs a car that looks and drives amazing but will leave you stranded on the side of the road. 

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Small Fiat 500 Abarth, Big Problems

The Fiat 500 Abarth may be small, but it comes with a big personality—and an even bigger reputation for being unreliable. Sure, it’s quirky and fun, but when a car demands constant oil changes and even door handles that wear out, the charm starts to fade fast. 

Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Fun Ride with a Flaw

Dealing with constant maintenance repairs can make the fun fade quickly. Whether it's the oil or the door handles, no one wants to give that much attention to their car. You want to be busy having a blast driving around in this high-end go-kart, not fixing it. 

Archenok, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The High-Maintenance Subaru STi

The Subaru STi is built as a kind of rally car for the road, which is the reason people love to purchase this model. Sadly, owners find it hard to stay excited about a car that can cause so much frustration and disappointment. The consensus is that this car demands too much patience.

Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Fragile Speed Demon

Frequent fuel pump failures and other mechanical problems have Subaru STi owners spending more time off the road than on it. Staying loyal to a car is tough when each day brings a new surprise issue. The fast drive might be thrilling, but the maintenance is far from fun. 

FotoSleuth, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maserati Quattroporte Is A Messy Mirage

An iconic Italian luxury car, the Maserati Quattroporte is beauty in motion—when it's moving. The car's reliability issues make it better to gaze at than to drive in. Owners complain they never know when it will break down. 

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Italian Tease

The Maserati Quattroporte promises a seductive blend of luxury and performance, but the romance doesn’t last. Owners were dazzled by its beauty, only to be let down by nagging F1 transmission issues. What starts as an irresistible affair quickly turns into regret behind the wheel.

Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maserati Ghibli Turns Into A Beautiful Burden

Another Maserati, the Ghibli, is a gorgeous Italian model that will drain your bank account on maintenance costs. The combination of poor-quality build and expensive repair costs has led to a lot of unhappy owners. This one is a beauty and a burden in upkeep.

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

Fast But Flawed Tesla S Plaid 

Everyone is talking about Teslas, and the S Plaid is the one with a focus on speed, including instant torque and ultra-fast acceleration. But owners who had a chance to look closer are finding build quality issues like creaking and gaps that detract from the experience.

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

The New Kid On The Block

Tesla's rise to fame has been impressive, but so are its growing pains. Drivers are becoming frustrated with the quality control issues, especially in the early models. There are still minor paint defects and panel gaps that Tesla will have to work out.

Calreyn88, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Volkswagen Jetta Electrical Issues

Anyone looking for a practical sedan will want to check out the Volkswagen Jetta. It's a popular choice but has too many electrical issues. The infotainment system and other electronics have bugs that can make you crazy when you need them on a long drive. 

Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Headache In Hiding 

Volkswagen pitched the Jetta as a dependable, budget-friendly sedan, but reality hit differently. Electrical gremlins and nagging quality issues left many owners frustrated, proving that the promise of solid German engineering doesn’t always match the experience on the road.

Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Crummy Chevy Vega Compact 

When GM introduced the Chevy Vega in the '70s, it was destined to be the ideal compact car. Sadly, it quickly became known for its engine problems and rust. Although it has a lightweight design, the Vega's build is of such poor quality that many buyers are left feeling ripped off. 

wallerdog, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Rusty Reputation

The Chevy Vega's tendency to rust shredded the company's vision of making this everyone's favorite small car. Together with its engine troubles, the Vega became a symbol of everything wrong with the American compacts of that period. 

dave_7, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Porsche's Pricey Maintenance 

Known for its precision engineering, the Porsche also comes with a hefty price tag—both before and after the purchase. Many owners are disappointed that they have to shell out too much money for maintenance and repairs, especially on older models.

Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Performance with a Price Tag

Porsche has a well-deserved reputation for performance, but maintaining one can be a challenge. Both the cost of parts and the frequent need for service keep owners on their toes. Owning a Porsche delivers thrills that can also empty your pockets.

Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Unbalanced Alfa Romeo 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C turns heads with its exotic looks, but under the hood, it doesn’t live up to the promise. With awkward proportions and an underwhelming engine, many shoppers wisely walked away—while those who didn’t often ended up disappointed. 

KoeppiK, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lightweight Letdown

Initially designed as a lightweight sports car, the Alfa Romeo 4C was supposed to combine agility and style. Drivers are unhappy with its underpowered engine and underwhelming tire setup, which together resulted in a letdown. The car looks fast but doesn't make the grade.

ilikewaffles11, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Fiat X1/9 Is Remembered for Rusting 

Rust problems have wiped out most of the old Fiat X1/9s. It started off as an affordable mid-engine sports car that looked great on paper, but the rust overshadowed its performance. Despite being fun to drive, this car has some serious body problems.

Alf van Beem, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

A Forgotten Gem

The Fiat X1/9 could have been a classic if it weren't for the rust. It had a mid-engine layout and handled well on the road, but the bodywork couldn't stand up to the rust. It's a car that's rare today, mostly because so many have crumbled.

Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, Wikimedia Commons

Revs Without Reliability In The Fiat 124 Spider

The Fiat 124 Spider was built as a throwback to the classic roadster but has its share of problems. Owners complain about problems with the turbocharger and electronics and that means frequent trips back to the dealer.

Autoweek USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Small Car With Big Problems

The Spider wins points for its retro styling and nimble handling, but good looks can only get you so far. Owners complain about turbocharger troubles and questionable build quality, leaving the car’s charm overshadowed by a rough and unreliable ride.

Charles01, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nissan Pathfinder Is The Recall King

You know something's wrong when a car model becomes famous for its number of recalls. The Nissan Pathfinder has had more than its fair share, mostly for transmission issues. Owners really hate having to deal with jumpy shifts and sudden power losses.

Kazyakuruma, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Going Off The Path

The Nissan Pathfinder is ideal for rugged journeys, but when reliability is a problem, you can be left stranded in the outback. Its reputation for transmission problems and frequent recalls have made the Pathfinder a car that promises off-road rides but might leave you walking the path.

Nissangeniss, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Land Rover Discovery Breakdowns

Discovery owners risk having to look for a tow after a day on off-road trails, thanks to issues with the suspension and electronics. Although it's built for adventure, this Land Rover has become known for its chronic breakdowns. Some vehicles like this are great in theory but not always in practice.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

With Volvo XC90, You'll Be Safe But Sorry

Known widely for its safety features, the Volvo XC90 is also becoming recognized for its lack of reliability. After dealing with too many transmission and electronics problems, some owners are regretting their purchase. It's another in the long list of cars that might keep you safe but will leave you sorry.

M 93, Wikimedia Commons