What used cars should not be bought in 2024: 10 bad brands

Buying a car is an important decision that should be approached with full responsibility. Some brands have proven to be reliable and durable vehicles, while others do not justify their cost.

Studies have shown that luxury cars tend to have more maintenance problems. Experts say the reason is that luxury brands are often the first to introduce new technologies, and by the time the innovations reach standard cars, any mistakes are likely to be corrected. Experts told us which used cars are better not to buy in 2024, as the costs will be higher than we would like.

Advantages of used cars

Whether you're looking for a luxury car or a mass-market brand, you can usually save money by buying a model that's only three years old, while minimizing the risks of high-mileage used cars. According to RealCarTips.com, the value of new cars depreciates by 40-50% in the first three years of ownership.

Purchasing a used car with high-reliability indicators will reduce the likelihood that you will have to pay for expensive repairs.

Land Rover

With 273 reported problems for every 100 vehicles, the Land Rover brand has a far from stellar reputation for reliability according to J.D. Power. Additionally, Consumer Reports ranked Land Rover 17th out of 17 luxury car brands for reliability.

Ford

Ford recently recalled 113,000 2021-2023 F-150 pickup trucks because of a rear axle malfunction that caused the vehicle to roll away while parked or lose power while driving. The recall does not apply to 2020 models, but experts have identified many other problems and complaints about the F-150 and other Ford vehicles.

Lincoln

In the luxury Lincolns, 259 problems per 100 cars were found. Consumer Reports rated Lincoln models 23 out of 30 for reliability. The 2020 Lincoln MKZ, based on the Ford Fusion powertrain, performed well in CR ratings. However, larger luxury models such as the Lincoln Navigator may not be worth the high price.

Audi

Audi vehicles had 252 problems per 100 vehicles. The Audi Q3 SUV received only 49 out of 100 points for reliability.

Tesla

Tesla electric cars, according to research, had 242 problems per 100 cars. Data on Tesla cars may be incomplete because the manufacturer does not share information with the research company, experts say.

Mercedes-Benz

With 240 problems per 100 cars, the Mercedes Benz brand did not show the best results in J.D. Power. Consumer Reports gave the 2020 C-Class 37 out of 100 for reliability, citing brakes and build quality as the two main issues.

Jaguar

Jaguar hasn't had a strong reputation for reliability for decades, and recent reports show little improvement. GOBankingRates recently named the 2023 Jaguar F-Pace as one of six luxury cars to avoid. Similarly, the 2020 Jaguar models showed 229 problems for every 100 cars.

Chrysler

Chrysler cars have 226 problems per 100 cars. According to Consumer Reports, the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica has a reliability rating of 32, which is half that of its competitor (the Toyota Sienna minivan).

Volkswagen

According to J.D. Power, Volkswagen had 216 problems for every 100 cars that rolled off the assembly line in the 2020 model year. Consumer Reports rated Volkswagen 27 out of 30 for reliability.

Volvo

With 215 errors per 100 cars, Volvo is in the top 10 least reliable brands. However, the reliability of this brand depends on the model you choose. For example, the entry-level Volvo XC40 SUV received high marks from Consumer Reports, but the Volvo V60 2020 wagon received only 20 out of 100.

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