Which Car Brand Breaks Down the Most?

Top 6 Car Brands that Break Down the Most and Why

If you’re like most people, you don’t think about your car breaking down until it happens to you.

But when it does, it’s always a pain.

Not only do you have to deal with the inconvenience of being without a car, but you also have to pay for repairs.

And if your car frequently breaks down, those repairs can start to add up.

You may find yourself wishing you’d invested in a comprehensive extended warranty.

If you own any of these cars, a warranty could save you thousands.

So which cars are the most unreliable?

Here are the top 5 brands that break down the most and what makes them so unreliable.

1. Chrysler

Chrysler vehicles are some of the most unreliable on the market.

They’ve been ranked as the least reliable car brand for three years in a row by Consumer Reports.

What makes Chrysler cars so unreliable?

One big reason is that the manufacturer widely produced what is known as the least reliable car.

The Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Neon.

This car was so incredibly unreliable that Consumer Reports stopped recommending it after just one year on the market.

Other Chrysler models don’t fare much better, with the 200 and the Sebring ranking among the most unreliable cars in their respective classes.

The most detrimental aspect of this history of unreliability is that Chrysler attempted to hide the flaws inherent to the car’s design.

Chrysler calculated the costs of potential lawsuits and decided it could still turn a profit on faulty cars.

This approach is not entirely uncommon.

Many companies have been found to sell a product they know will fail.

Sadly, the failure is calculated into profit margins, and the legal system reacts with only a slap on the wrist.

Allowing car companies to continue this practice if need be.

2. Fiat

Chrysler’s current owner is Fiat.

Fiat also owns Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and Maserati.

Consumer Reports has ranked all of these as some of the least reliable car brands.

Alfa Romeos were once considered some of the most beautiful cars in the world.

But they have since fallen out of favor due to unreliability.

The Giulietta, for example, has a reliability score of just one out of five.

That means it is one of the least reliable cars on the market.

Lancia was once a highly respected car brand.

But, it too has been brought down by the cloud of Fiat’s cost-effective unreliability.

The Ypsilon, for example, has a reliability score of just two out of five.

That makes it one of the least reliable cars in its class.

Maserati is a luxury car brand that Fiat owns.

It is also one of the least reliable car brands on the market.

The Ghibli, for example, has a reliability score of just two out of five.

That means that it is one of the least reliable luxury cars on the market.

3. Jaguar

Jaguar is a luxury car brand that Tata Motors own.

The Indian manufacturing giant is valued at almost twice that of Subaru.

It is also one of the least reliable car brands on the market.

It was ranked as the second least reliable car brand by Consumer Reports in 2019.

What makes Jaguar cars so unreliable?

One big reason is that the manufacturer has been notoriously bad at issuing recalls.

Jaguar was ranked as the worst car company for recalls in 2019.

Another big reason is that electrical problems often plague Jaguar cars.

This is especially true of older models.

The X-type, for example, has an electrical reliability score of just one out of five.

That means that it is one of the least reliable cars in its class regarding electrical problems.

4. Chevrolet

Chevrolet is an American car company that General Motors own.

GM is one of the biggest car companies in the world.

But it is also one of the least reliable.

Consumer Reports ranked it as the third least reliable car brand in 2019.

What makes Chevrolet cars so unreliable?

The accounting department is to blame.

GM has been known to cut corners on quality to meet financial targets.

This is especially true of Chevrolet cars.

The Chevy Cobalt, for example, was plagued by so many safety issues that it was eventually pulled from the market.

The Chevy Cruze is another example of a car plagued by quality issues.

It has been recalled multiple times for problems with its engine and transmission.

Additionally, the recent embarrassment of the CEO of GM, Mary Barra, after a televised New York Times interview, is the last nail in the proverbial coffin.

The CEO was provided with the information that GM is one of the least productive EV manufacturers and is inarguably overshadowed by Tesla’s growth, production numbers, and technology.

The CEO responded, “Yes, GM is the leader in the EV market…” and then provided excuses as to why, quarter over quarter, GM is not producing more EVs.

This does not impart confidence in a company the American people have bailed out time and time again.

5. Lincoln

Lincoln is an American luxury car brand that Ford owns.

While Ford has been struggling recently, Lincoln has been hit particularly hard.

Consumer Reports ranked it as the least reliable car brand in 2021.

What makes Lincoln cars so unreliable?

One big reason is that the manufacturer wants to move in a more refined and ergonomic direction.

This means installing more and newer technology in the car.

Sadly, like all American brands, Lincoln only learned how to make a luxury vehicle about ten years ago.

Before then, American luxury just meant thicker padding under the faux-leather upholstery.

As a result, Lincoln’s cars are often plagued by electrical problems.

The Navigator, for example, has an electrical reliability score of just one out of five.

That means it is one of the least reliable luxury SUVs on the market regarding electrical problems.

6. Cadillac

Cadillac is an American luxury car brand that, like Chrysler, is also owned by General Motors.

GM is one of the biggest car companies in the world.

But as we have discussed, it is also one of the least reliable.

What makes Cadillac cars so unreliable?

The same problem that Lincoln had.

Cadillac only learned what luxury was ten years ago.

As a result, their cars are often plagued by electrical problems.

The Escalade, for example, has an electrical reliability score of just one out of five.

That means it is another one of the least reliable luxury SUVs on the market regarding electrical problems.