There are hidden problems: the mechanic named the cars he would never buy

Buying a new car is an important decision and a serious investment. There is always a risk of choosing a model that will bring more problems than benefits in the future and will require constant investment in repairs and maintenance.

Buyers should also consider hidden problems such as the transmission, depreciation rates, and repair costs, said Chris Pyle, a car mechanic and expert at Just Answer. GOBankingRates has published a rating of cars that usually have hidden problems.

Reputable publications, such as Car and Driver, present Tesla as a combination of impressive performance and a high-tech interior with a sufficient range.

Chris Pyle emphasized that Tesla may seem like a great choice until it needs repairs. The price for the 2024 Tesla Model 3 starts at almost $41,000, but the expert emphasized that you will have to spend much more money during operation.

Pyle put Tesla, along with Rivian, at the top of the list of cars he would not buy: "These cars sometimes have engine or battery failures, and the cost of repair is too high."

Expert Dash Lewis agreed that Tesla is one of the most expensive cars to repair and maintain. This is partly because Tesla car parts are unique and hard to find. You will pay premium prices for auto parts. Lewis estimates that Tesla repairs cost $1,078 more over the life of the car than other electric cars.

Rivian is a California-based startup that manufactures premium electric SUVs and pickups at its Illinois plant.

The 2025 Rivian RIT pickup starts at $71,000. Like Tesla, Rivian is an expensive vehicle to repair. One Rivian owner told an online forum that a minor accident cost him much more than expected. What looked like a bent bumper cover and a dented trunk door cost more than $42,000.

Pyle added that he will not be buying new Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Nissan, or Toyota pickups.

"In the first five years of ownership, you'll lose about 35% to 55% of the value of a vehicle in the $30,000 to $50,000 price range. It's better to buy a used model," the expert advises.

CarEdge has estimated that, for example, the Ford F-350 Super Duty will depreciate by 36% in five years.

The Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500 have the same chassis and often require repairs.

"It's not so much the cost of repairs as the frequency of need," Pyle said.

Edmunds Car Review rated the 2023 Jeep Renegade 6 out of 10 in terms of value. Renegade is one of the most expensive cars in its class.

The 2023 Fiat 500x performed slightly better than the Jeep Renegade, receiving a 7 out of 10 rating from Edmunds reviewers. The testers liked the "soft-touch materials" and the matching body color panels. However, they pointed to the overpriced price and poor technological content.

The next group of cars that Pyle would not buy were the Ford Fiesta and Nissan.

"The dual-clutch gearbox and CVT (continuously variable transmission) often fail to withstand the loads," Pyle said.

Since 2012, the Ford Fiesta has been the subject of numerous lawsuits, as the automaker knew about the poor quality of the Fiesta's PowerShift transmission (dual-clutch transmission) and did not withdraw the model from sale. Owners reported the same problems, even after replacing clutches, output shafts, and transmissions.

Similarly, owners of various Nissan models between 2013 and 2018 filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), claiming that the faulty CVT transmissions caused "shuddering and acceleration delays that could lead to collisions."

The Jeep Grand Cherokee received a reliability score of 3.5 out of 5 from RepairPal. The car requires expensive repairs and suffers from premature failure of parts due to poor manufacturing, Chris Pyle added.

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