Most used cars are fine. A few model years are not. These are the years where owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold ran far above that model’s normal level, usually because of one well-known fault such as a failing transmission, an engine that burns oil or a turbo that lets fuel into the oil.
The list below covers the worst years among the 89 models we track. For each, we name the main problem so you know what to check if you are still tempted.
The worst years we track
| Model year | Complaints per 100k | Model average | Main problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Ford Edge | 1,895 | 652 | Door-ajar warnings and failing brake boosters |
| 2016 Hyundai Tucson | 1,812 | 522 | Dual-clutch transmission hesitation and loss of power |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 1,547 | 888 | PowerShift dual-clutch shudder and power steering failure |
| 2012 Dodge Durango | 1,503 | 567 | Power module (TIPM) and fuel pump relay failures |
| 2014 Jeep Cherokee | 1,486 | 615 | First-year nine-speed automatic: rough shifts and stalling |
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 1,430 | 416 | Nine-speed transmission, stop-start and stalling |
| 2017 Chrysler Pacifica | 1,374 | 616 | Stalling, loss of power and engine warning lights |
| 2015 GMC Yukon | 1,343 | 421 | Failing brake and tail lights, hard brake pedal |
| 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,299 | 443 | Electrical faults, stalling, rough shifting |
| 2014 Dodge Durango | 1,221 | 567 | Tail light failures and headrest complaints |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 1,212 | 888 | PowerShift transmission shudder and slipping |
| 2013 Ford Explorer | 1,163 | 560 | Power steering failure and exhaust fumes in the cabin |
| 2013 Kia Sportage | 1,156 | 372 | Engine seizure and connecting rod failure |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 1,100 | 583 | Engine failure and engine fires |
| 2012 Ford Fusion | 1,085 | 510 | Power steering failure and air bag recalls |
| 2012 Kia Sportage | 1,078 | 372 | Engines seizing without warning |
| 2020 Kia Telluride | 1,038 | 590 | High beams that fail, oil consumption, peeling paint |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 1,031 | 544 | First-year faults: transmission shudder, broken door check arms |
| 2019 Honda Odyssey | 1,007 | 371 | Driver-assist camera faults and electrical glitches |
| 2013 Nissan Pathfinder | 1,005 | 313 | First-year CVT judder and air bag sensor faults |
| 2017 Honda Ridgeline | 999 | 443 | Electrical faults, engine bearing failures, fuel pump recall |
| 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 998 | 428 | Engine failure and engine fires |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | 994 | 457 | Engine seizure from bearing failure |
| 2017 Ford Edge | 971 | 652 | Coolant leaking into the 2.0 EcoBoost engine |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 955 | 522 | Engine failure and oil consumption |
| 2018 Chrysler Pacifica | 947 | 616 | Loss of power and hybrid shutdowns |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 931 | 544 | Coolant leaks, overheating and reduced engine power |
| 2013 Kia Optima | 926 | 480 | Engine seizure and stalling |
| 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan | 924 | 319 | Power sliding doors that will not open |
| 2016 Chevrolet Impala | 917 | 269 | Reduced engine power and false Shift to Park messages |
| 2012 Mazda CX-9 | 904 | 310 | Brake booster failures and a hard pedal |
| 2019 Jeep Cherokee | 876 | 615 | Stalling, dead batteries and 4WD faults |
| 2015 Chevrolet Suburban | 849 | 282 | Hard brake pedal from a failing vacuum pump |
| 2015 Jeep Renegade | 841 | 338 | Stalling, dead batteries and rough shifting |
| 2012 Dodge Charger | 800 | 221 | Electrical recalls and alternator fires |
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | 783 | 487 | Battery drain, engine faults and air bag recalls |
| 2018 Jeep Wrangler | 762 | 375 | Steering shake known as death wobble |
| 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe | 750 | 247 | Hard brake pedal from a failing vacuum pump |
| 2013 Nissan Altima | 722 | 205 | CVT transmission shudder and failure |
| 2022 Honda Civic | 718 | 192 | Sticky steering rack and driver-assist warnings |
| 2019 Honda Ridgeline | 714 | 443 | Fuel pump recall, engine bearings, torque converter shudder |
| 2018 Ford Expedition | 701 | 410 | 10-speed transmission and cam phaser noise |
| 2021 GMC Yukon | 693 | 421 | Engine failures after the redesign |
| 2018 Honda Accord | 692 | 259 | False automatic braking and fuel in the oil |
| 2016 Acura MDX | 681 | 336 | Nine-speed transmission and engine bearing faults |
| 2021 Volkswagen Atlas | 663 | 487 | Parking brake faults, brake wear and stalling |
| 2018 Toyota C-HR | 661 | 289 | CVT whine and internal bearing failure |
| 2016 Chevrolet Colorado | 659 | 231 | Power steering cutting out |
| 2020 Hyundai Palisade | 656 | 520 | Oil consumption and cracked windshields |
| 2019 Subaru Outback | 572 | 361 | Dead batteries, cracked windshields, screen faults |
| 2018 Honda CR-V | 571 | 226 | Fuel in the oil on the 1.5-liter turbo |
| 2013 Ford F-150 | 546 | 278 | Sudden downshifts, engine stumbling, sinking brake pedal |
| 2014 Ram 1500 | 540 | 310 | Sudden loss of power steering |
| 2013 Nissan Sentra | 494 | 174 | CVT transmission failure |
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 492 | 287 | Reduced engine power and false shift-to-park warnings |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 463 | 245 | Cracked windshields and an engine valve recall |
| 2014 Chevrolet Silverado | 421 | 210 | Power steering cutting out and hard brake pedal |
| 2022 Toyota Tundra | 417 | 106 | Engine damage from machining debris, leading to a recall |
Two things stand out
First years of a redesign dominate the list. The 2016 Tucson, 2016 Pilot, 2020 Escape, 2018 Wrangler, 2018 Accord, 2013 Altima, 2014 Silverado, 2022 Tundra, 2014 Jeep Cherokee, 2013 Pathfinder and 2012 Focus were all first years of a new design. We looked at this pattern in detail in our redesign study.
Engine failures cluster in one family. The Sportage, Optima, Sonata, Santa Fe and Tucson all appear here for the same reason: the 2.0 and 2.4-liter Theta II engines that Hyundai and Kia later covered with extended warranties. Our Hyundai and Kia engine guide explains which cars qualify.
Even the best brands have a bad year. The 2022 Tundra has four times the complaints of a normal Tundra, and the 2018 Camry about two and a half times a normal Camry. A strong brand reputation does not cover every year.
If you already own one
A bad year does not mean every car is bad. Many owners of these cars have no trouble, and for several the main fault has a fix.
- Check recalls first. Several problems on this list, such as the Tundra engine and the Wrangler frame welds, are covered by recalls that are free at any dealer.
- Ask about extended warranties. Carmakers sometimes extend coverage for a known fault without a recall. Honda did this for oil dilution on the CR-V, and Hyundai and Kia extended engine coverage for many 2011-2019 cars.
- Keep records. If a known problem shows up, records of regular maintenance make a goodwill repair much more likely.
If you are shopping
Avoiding a bad year is the cheapest reliability decision you can make. The year before or after usually costs about the same and has far fewer complaints. Our best years list shows which years to aim for instead.
Questions
Should I never buy one of these years? If the main fault has been repaired with receipts, such as a replaced CVT or a fixed engine, the risk drops a lot. Price the car as if you might need that repair if there are no records.
Why are some popular cars missing? We track 89 models so far and add more over time. A car not on this list is not necessarily a safe pick.