Reliability, of course, is a major factor to consider when you are purchasing a new vehicle. There are essentially two criteria for determining how reliable a vehicle is. The first is all about the quality of the parts and components, and the second is about how well the vehicle is designed and engineered. Some manufacturers have the reputation for producing reliable vehicles, but analysis done by industry experts based on reports from owners doesn’t always back up the public perception. Here are some cars that may be less reliable than you believe.
- The Tesla Model X
Tesla deserves props for expanding the electric-vehicle market by producing electric cars that can go hundreds of miles before needing to be recharged. With their futuristic styling, they also look fantastic. Having said all that, they aren’t especially reliable, and many owners have reported breakdowns soon after purchasing their Tesla Model X vehicles in particular.
- Cadillac Escalade
Cadillac has a reputation for luxury and excellence, and they have earned it. The good reputation of the brand doesn’t totally carry over to their SUV models, however, and the Escalade is an unfortunate example. It is plagued with transmission issues, and its infotainment system is not rated highly by owners.
- The Ford Focus
The Ford Focus has awesome fuel efficiency, and that has helped it sell well. Once on the road, however, many owners report transmission problems, and it has even been known to drop into neutral between gears. There have been so many complaints that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a close look at the Focus.
- The Jeep Renegade
Jeep owners tend to be fanatically devoted to their vehicles, but many aren’t excited by the Renegade. To start with, it has terrible fuel efficiency in comparison to other Jeep models. Owners might be willing to put up with this if the vehicle didn’t give them mechanical problems, but the Renegade has, sadly, proved to be largely unreliable. All of that adds up to an unpopular Jeep.
- The Chevrolet Suburban
On the positive side, the Suburban has lots of room, great towing capacity and has the power needed to perform well almost anywhere. On the negative side, the electronics in the vehicle often have problems, and the transmission has developed a reputation for being unreliable. This is not a Chevy for the long-term.
