4 Cars Mechanics Never Buy

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AAA estimates that the average American spends about $1,452 annually on vehicle maintenance and repairs. That could be a problem for many drivers, considering that about 44% of the population says they’d have a difficult time affording a $1,000 emergency expense.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. So, how can you keep yourself out of the mechanic’s garage as much as possible? It starts with avoiding vehicles that are the least reliable. Here are four of them.1. Jeep WranglerI’ll admit, I like Wranglers a lot. They’re unique, versatile, and offer something many vehicles severely lack these days: fun. Unfortunately, they don’t have the best track record for reliability.Consumer Reports rated the 2024 Wrangler the lowest on its list of least reliable vehicles, noting that potential mechanical issues to look out for include the steering and suspension, drive system, and electrical system.Some good news for Wrangler owners: They’re often less expensive to insure compared to other SUVs. No matter what type of vehicle you own, click here to compare quotes from the cheapest car insurance companies.2. Volkswagen JettaIn college, I bought a used Acura Integra from a family friend. She loved her car, but it was older, and she really wanted a new Volkswagen Jetta. Less than a year later, she joked (almost sincerely) that she wished she could buy the car back from me because the Jetta was having too many problems.That was many years ago, and apparently, Jetta’s haven’t improved their reliability much since then. Consumer Reports gave the Jetta a low-reliability score for 2024, with the in-car electronics and climate system being a couple of trouble spots. In a sedan comparison two years ago, just 50% of Jetta owners said they’d buy the car again, compared to 65% of Mazda 3 owners.3. Nissan FrontierNissan’s midsized pickup might be the perfect amount of truck for weekend trips to the hardware store, but it’s one of the least reliable vehicles for 2024. According to Consumer Reports, potential trouble spots are the transmission and electrical accessories.Instead of the Frontier, you might want to opt for the Toyota Tacoma or the Honda Ridgeline, both of which have significantly higher reliability ratings than the Frontier.Related: The average annual cost to insure a standard pickup truck is more than $2,300. If you’re paying too much, shop around for lower premiums. Click here to get rates from the best car insurance companies.4. Volvo XC60 Plug-in HybridHybrids are a great option if you’re looking to save money on gas and potentially lower your carbon footprint. However, not all hybrids have the same reliability, and some could even cost you more in the long run because of repairs and maintenance.According to Consumer Reports, the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid has some issues with its EV battery and charging, making it onto the magazine’s list of least reliable vehicles. A better option might be the hybrid version of the Toyota RAV4, which is not only recommended by Consumer Reports but also can go an impressive 42 miles in electric-only mode.A car’s reliability isn’t the only factor when deciding whether to buy it, but knowing which vehicles will likely require more trips to the shop can help you make a more informed decision. After all, you don’t want your next car purchase to bust your monthly budget while enriching your mechanic’s vacation fund.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

AAA estimates that the average American spends about $1,452 annually on vehicle maintenance and repairs. That could be a problem for many drivers, considering that about 44% of the population says they’d have a difficult time affording a $1,000 emergency expense.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

So, how can you keep yourself out of the mechanic’s garage as much as possible? It starts with avoiding vehicles that are the least reliable. Here are four of them.

1. Jeep Wrangler

I’ll admit, I like Wranglers a lot. They’re unique, versatile, and offer something many vehicles severely lack these days: fun. Unfortunately, they don’t have the best track record for reliability.

Consumer Reports rated the 2024 Wrangler the lowest on its list of least reliable vehicles, noting that potential mechanical issues to look out for include the steering and suspension, drive system, and electrical system.

Some good news for Wrangler owners: They’re often less expensive to insure compared to other SUVs. No matter what type of vehicle you own, click here to compare quotes from the cheapest car insurance companies.

2. Volkswagen Jetta

In college, I bought a used Acura Integra from a family friend. She loved her car, but it was older, and she really wanted a new Volkswagen Jetta. Less than a year later, she joked (almost sincerely) that she wished she could buy the car back from me because the Jetta was having too many problems.

That was many years ago, and apparently, Jetta’s haven’t improved their reliability much since then. Consumer Reports gave the Jetta a low-reliability score for 2024, with the in-car electronics and climate system being a couple of trouble spots. In a sedan comparison two years ago, just 50% of Jetta owners said they’d buy the car again, compared to 65% of Mazda 3 owners.

3. Nissan Frontier

Nissan’s midsized pickup might be the perfect amount of truck for weekend trips to the hardware store, but it’s one of the least reliable vehicles for 2024. According to Consumer Reports, potential trouble spots are the transmission and electrical accessories.

Instead of the Frontier, you might want to opt for the Toyota Tacoma or the Honda Ridgeline, both of which have significantly higher reliability ratings than the Frontier.

Related: The average annual cost to insure a standard pickup truck is more than $2,300. If you’re paying too much, shop around for lower premiums. Click here to get rates from the best car insurance companies.

4. Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid

Hybrids are a great option if you’re looking to save money on gas and potentially lower your carbon footprint. However, not all hybrids have the same reliability, and some could even cost you more in the long run because of repairs and maintenance.

According to Consumer Reports, the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid has some issues with its EV battery and charging, making it onto the magazine’s list of least reliable vehicles. A better option might be the hybrid version of the Toyota RAV4, which is not only recommended by Consumer Reports but also can go an impressive 42 miles in electric-only mode.

A car’s reliability isn’t the only factor when deciding whether to buy it, but knowing which vehicles will likely require more trips to the shop can help you make a more informed decision. After all, you don’t want your next car purchase to bust your monthly budget while enriching your mechanic’s vacation fund.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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