With car insurance rates expected to rise significantly this year and a lack of clarity around how tariffs will impact the price of automotive parts, most of us are crossing our fingers that our vehicles don’t end up in the shop. So, if you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, you may want to avoid the following five cars. Using data from over 300,00 vehicles, Consumer Reports (CR) recently determined “which [new] models stand the test of time and which are more likely to end up in the shop.” Read on for the five least reliable car brands of 2025, along with which model is especially problematic for each.
RELATED: Mechanics Agree These Are the 2 Most Reliable Cars You Can Buy.
5. Volkswagen
2 | Volkswagen TaosShutterstock
Unreliable Model: Taos
Problem areas:
- Brakes
- Electrical accessories
- Engine head gasket
Consumer Reports isn’t the only expert to call out the German automaker’s Taos model.
Last year, automative expert Shari Prymak posted a video sharing five cars that won’t make it to 60,000 miles—and coming in at number-two on his list was the Taos, which he agreed has a lot of electrical issues.
Speaking to the SUV’s 1.5-liter turbocharge engine, Prymak said it “has a number of reported issues including leaks, fuel, system problems, and sometimes even total engine failure.”
He added that the all-wheel drive versions of the Taos have a “very complicated dual clutch automated manual transmission.” He said, “In addition to jerky shifting, which these transmissions are known for, it can fail prematurely, and when it does, it’s going to cost an absolute fortune to repair or replace.”
4. Jeep
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Unreliable Model: Grand Cherokee
Problem areas:
- Drive system
- Climate system
- Steering vibrations
- Steering harness replacement
- Brakes
- Body hardware
- Electrical accessories
- Noises and leaks
“One owner told us they felt rattling over bumps, which required replacing the struts and ball joints,” CR shares of this popular yet unreliable SUV.
Moreover, in a Dec. 2024 CR ranking of 32 car brands based on reliability, owner satisfaction, safety, and road-test scores, Jeep came in dead last.
In this ranking, they called out the
Jeep Wrangler, noting that it “has poor fuel economy, wind noise, an uncomfortable interior, and reliability scores near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ rankings.”
In fact, CR doesn’t recommend a single Jeep model.
3. GMC
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Unreliable Model: Canyon
Problem areas:
- Engine
- In-car electronics
- Full hardware replacement of the infotainment system
This mid-size pickup truck comes from a brand that is consistently poorly rated by CR, and again, they don’t recommend any GMC vehicles.
RELATED: Expert Names 5 Cars That Won’t Last 60,000 Miles in New Video.
2. Cadillac
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Unreliable Model: Lyriq
Problem areas:
- Electric vehicle battery
- Electrical accessories
- In-car electronics
One owner of Cadillac’s first all-electric model told CR that “the battery pack discharged on its own, which required a software update from the dealer.”
However, you may fare better with a non-electric Cadillac model, as CR doesn’t rate those as poorly.
“New car reliability across the brand is average,” CR states. “Several new models are Consumer Reports recommended for their interior quality, comfort, and fit and finish.”
1. Rivian
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Unreliable Models: R1T
Problem areas:
- EV batteries and charging system
- Climate system
- Electrical accessories
- EV battery pack replacement
The all-electric startup Rivian only makes two models, the R1T pickup truck and the R1S three-row SUV, and they both tanked according to CR’s reliability ranking.
In CR’s overall 2024 list, Rivian came in second to last, right behind Jeep. However, the brand does rank highly for customer satisfaction.
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.