Special Report
These New Cars Are Most Likely to Break Down
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Last Updated:
There are many important things to consider when buying a new car, and something that often gets overlooked is how long it will last before repairs are needed. Some cars are built to last, while others have problems that could mean the car will spend considerable time in the shop and cost thousands in repairs.
To help car buyers identify potentially troublesome cars, product review site Consumer Reports conducted its latest annual Auto Reports survey of approximately 420,000 vehicles and determined how likely each model is to have serious problems. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed models for the 2020 model year with a predicted reliability score of 1 out of 5, meaning Consumer Reports has determined these are the new models most likely to report serious problems down the road.
The models on this list include both luxury models and lower-end vehicles. More expensive luxury models can be costly to fix, and to insure, particularly if the encountered problems are common. These are the most expensive cars to insure.
While many different automakers and brands appear on this list, some appear more than others. Notably, Land Rover and Chevrolet have at least five models each with a predicted reliability score of just 1 out of 5. These are the car brands with the most frustrated drivers.
Click here to see the new cars that are most likely to break down.
Click here to see our methodology.
1. Audi A8
> Consumer Reports overall score: 67
> MSRP: $83,800
> Fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
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2. Audi A6
> Consumer Reports overall score: 65
> MSRP: $54,900 – $73,900
> Fuel efficiency: 26 MPG
3. Chevrolet Traverse
> Consumer Reports overall score: 65
> MSRP: $29,800 – $53,200
> Fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
4. BMW 3 Series
> Consumer Reports overall score: 63
> MSRP: $40,750 – $56,000
> Fuel efficiency: 29 MPG
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5. Lincoln Nautilus
> Consumer Reports overall score: 63
> MSRP: $41,040 – $63,800
> Fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
6. Acura RDX
> Consumer Reports overall score: 61
> MSRP: $37,600 – $47,700
> Fuel efficiency: 22 MPG
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7. Toyota C-HR
> Consumer Reports overall score: 61
> MSRP: $21,295 – $26,350
> Fuel efficiency: 29 MPG
8. Volkswagen Atlas
> Consumer Reports overall score: 61
> MSRP: $31,545 – $49,195
> Fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
9. Volkswagen Tiguan
> Consumer Reports overall score: 61
> MSRP: $24,945 – $38,795
> Fuel efficiency: 25 MPG
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10. Chrysler Pacifica
> Consumer Reports overall score: 59
> MSRP: $33,745 – $45,845
> Fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
11. Honda Passport
> Consumer Reports overall score: 59
> MSRP: $31,990 – $43,780
> Fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
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12. Acura MDX
> Consumer Reports overall score: 58
> MSRP: $44,400 – $60,150
> Fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
13. Ram 1500
> Consumer Reports overall score: 58
> MSRP: $32,145 – $57,265
> Fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
14. Ford F-150
> Consumer Reports overall score: 57
> MSRP: $28,495 – $70,910
> Fuel efficiency: 19 MPG
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15. Tesla Model X
> Consumer Reports overall score: 57
> MSRP: $81,000 – $138,000
> Fuel efficiency: 87 MPG
16. Cadillac XT6
> Consumer Reports overall score: 56
> MSRP: $52,695 – $57,095
> Fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
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17. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
> Consumer Reports overall score: 54
> MSRP: $28,300 – $56,800
> Fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
18. GMC Sierra 1500
> Consumer Reports overall score: 54
> MSRP: $29,600 – $58,500
> Fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
19. Land Rover Range Rover
> Consumer Reports overall score: 54
> MSRP: $90,900 – $209,500
> Fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
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20. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
> Consumer Reports overall score: 54
> MSRP: $68,650 – $114,500
> Fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
21. Land Rover Range Rover Velar
> Consumer Reports overall score: 54
> MSRP: $56,300 – $90,790
> Fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
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22. Chevrolet Camaro
> Consumer Reports overall score: 53
> MSRP: $25,000 – $68,000
> Fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
23. Cadillac XT4
> Consumer Reports overall score: 52
> MSRP: $35,695 – $42,295
> Fuel efficiency: 23 MPG
24. Lexus LS
> Consumer Reports overall score: 52
> MSRP: $75,450 – $100,865
> Fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
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25. Alfa Romeo Giulia
> Consumer Reports overall score: 51
> MSRP: $39,345 – $74,445
> Fuel efficiency: 27 MPG
26. Land Rover Discovery
> Consumer Reports overall score: 51
> MSRP: $52,300 – $69,200
> Fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
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27. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
> Consumer Reports overall score: 45
> MSRP: $42,650 – $56,850
> Fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
28. Land Rover Discovery Sport
> Consumer Reports overall score: 44
> MSRP: $37,800 – $52,800
> Fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
29. Cadillac Escalade
> Consumer Reports overall score: 41
> MSRP: $75,195 – $98,295
> Fuel efficiency: 16 MPG
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30. Chevrolet Colorado
> Consumer Reports overall score: 37
> MSRP: $21,300 – $43,000
> Fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
31. GMC Canyon
> Consumer Reports overall score: 37
> MSRP: $22,200 – $44,300
> Fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
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32. Fiat 500X
> Consumer Reports overall score: 35
> MSRP: $24,590 – $29,495
> Fuel efficiency: 23 MPG
33. Fiat 500L
> Consumer Reports overall score: 29
> MSRP: $22,500 – $24,645
> Fuel efficiency: 27 MPG
34. Jeep Wrangler
> Consumer Reports overall score: 28
> MSRP: $28,295 – $42,125
> Fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
Methodology
To determine the cars that are most likely to break down, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed all 2020 model vehicles from Consumer Reports with a reliability score of 1 out of 5. Consumer Reports also awards an overall model score out of 100, which incorporates reliability and other measures of quality. We excluded all models that were not awarded an overall score by Consumer Reports, as well as models with an overall score of 70 or higher. MSRP ranges and combined fuel efficiency figures are also from Consumer Reports.
These data come from Consumer Reports’ latest Auto Reports survey, conducted in 2019 and covering approximately 420,000 vehicles. Respondents were asked to report issues they experienced with their vehicles in one of 17 areas, ranging from engine problems to climate control issues to malfunctioning electrical systems. Using this information, experts at Consumer Reports assigned a predicted reliability score of 1 to 5 for these vehicles. The vehicles listed below are the 2020 model vehicles that received a score of just 1 out of 5.
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