No Car Company Is Immune to the Odd Failure
All of the world's major car companies have enjoyed tremendous successes throughout the decades. But they don't have perfect records — not by a long shot. There's been a number of failures scattered across the years as well. And those vehicles were so disappointing that it almost brings a tear to your eye! On that note, we're going to take a closer look at the worst offenders right here.
Chevrolet SSR
The Chevrolet SSR is fascinating for all the wrong reasons. It was a weird cross between a pickup truck and a convertible, equipped with an underpowered V6 engine. The vehicle left folks both baffled and disappointed — an unhelpful combo! In the end, it proved to be an expensive failure for Chevrolet.
Cadillac XLR
To say that the Cadillac XLR flattered to deceive would be a major understatement. This car looked amazing — but its performances didn't measure up against the competition. Motorists subsequently voted with their wallets, as the XLR failed to hit any of Cadillac's sales estimates. It was a disaster.
Subaru SVX
There was a lot to like about the Subaru SVX when it launched in the early 1990s. It was stylish, it performed brilliantly, and the car was technologically advanced for its time. So that makes its failure all the more sad! The SVX struggled to find buyers thanks to its high price. Its unreliable transmission didn't help, either.
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
The specs for the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid were quite impressive. It was equipped with a powerful V8 engine, had four-wheel drive, and could tow around 8,200 pounds. There was just one problem, though. The miles-per-gallon sucked! It could only achieve 19 mpg. With sales struggling, the Tahoe Hybrid's six-year production run came to an unglamorous end in 2013.
Buick Reatta
Was the Buick Reatta a unique vehicle? Absolutely. It looked really cool! But it didn't scratch the itch of sports car fans at the time. They were left unimpressed. As a result, the Reatta's sales floundered throughout its production run. Buick ultimately pulled the plug just three years after its launch.
Buick Cascada
Some 25 years after the Reatta was laid to rest, Buick went down the convertible route again with the Cascada. Did it pay off? Nope! This car was maligned for its lack of power, acceleration, excessive weight, and awful air buffeting. The top took an age to lock into position, too. It flopped — hard.
Chrysler's TC by Maserati
When reeling off a list of major car failures, you can't ignore the Chrysler TC by Maserati. What a miss this was! Its iffy performances didn't line up with the high price, while its appearance was a big issue as well. The TC looked very similar to the Chrysler LeBaron — there wasn't a huge difference between them. Folks started to question why they should buy a more expensive version of an affordable motor.
Chrysler Aspen
It's not hard to understand why the Chrysler Aspen failed, folks. First thing's first, it was pretty much just a rebadged Dodge Durango. It couldn't be less distinct! On top of that, the Aspen also had some concerning reliability issues. The transmission and AC were particularly troublesome.
Ferrari Mondial 8
The Ferrari Mondial 8 sold very well upon its release. Yet those sales soon dried up, and now the car is seen as one of the company's biggest failures. Why? Well, the Mondial 8 was never a great performer. It lacked power and a strong acceleration. It handled poorly, too.
Fiat Multipla
We can't help but feel sorry for the Fiat Multipla. It was actually a pretty practical car, offering up loads of interior space despite its size. Yet folks couldn't get past that exterior. The Multipla is often described as one of the ugliest vehicles ever created. So no, it didn't sell well!
Coda EV
How's this for a perfect storm of circumstances? The Coda EV was expensive, ugly, had limited range, and couldn't compete against the likes of the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Model S. Only 117 of them were shifted in the end, leading Coda to bankruptcy. Talk about a swing and a miss!
Ford Th! Nk
Unique name aside, the Ford Th!nk fell flat on its face when it first came out. People hated the EV's appearance, comparing it to a golf cart. The range was a problem, too — it couldn't go further than 50 miles. It went on to be a significant flop.
Aston Martin Lagonda
It can't be denied that the Aston Martin Lagonda was an innovative vehicle. The on-board tech was very impressive for its time. But boy, did it have problems. The electronics were hugely unreliable, leading to plenty of malfunctions. In addition to that, the press mauled it — Time magazine was particularly scathing!
GM EV1
The GM EV1 helped pave the way for electric cars going forward following its release in the 1990s. But even so, it still struggled to find many buyers at that time. Sales were pretty disappointing, which prompted GM to pull the plug. The EV1's production run only spanned three years.
GMC Envoy XUV
What happens if you combine a pickup truck with an SUV? Well, you get the GMC Envoy XUV. Sorry to disappoint you! This thing was a disaster, as drivers struggled to deal with its "innovations." The rear gate and retractable roof caused no-end of issues. The XUV's production run barely lasted 12 months.
Rolls-Royce Camargue
A questionable design? Check. An unfriendly price? Check. Poor sales? You bet! Yep, the Rolls-Royce Camargue really struggled upon its release. Despite boasting an array of advanced features, it failed to resonate with the masses. The car did eventually earn its flowers, but it took decades.
Lincoln Blackwood
The Lincoln Blackwood still has the power to puzzle and bemuse to this day. What a bizarre vehicle. This thing was arguably the most impractical pickup truck on the market when it came out in 2002. Why was the cargo box covered in carpet? Who wanted that? The dreadful sales suggest nobody did!
Maserati Biturbo
Similar to the Mondial 8, the Maserati Biturbo surged out of the blocks upon its release. And much like that car, it also suffered declining sales due to a litany of problems. The engine was a big headache — it often overheated and failed. Fires were a real concern here, folks.
Jaguar X-Type
Was the Jaguar X-Type eye-catching? Certainly. But its interesting appearance could only take it so far. The car developed a reputation for being underbuilt, as it suffered with nagging reliability issues. The door latches and drivetrain were particularly troublesome. It sold poorly throughout its production run.
Pontiac Aztek
How many vehicles have been laughed out of a showroom upon their unveiling? Well, the Pontiac Aztek holds that dubious honor. This poor motor's been relentlessly mocked over the years for its ugly design. Bad sales figures didn't help the Aztek's reputation, either. It was a significant flop.
Subaru Baja
As a coupé utility, the Subaru Baja was undeniably interesting. But the execution of that idea left most people cold. It wasn't particularly practical, and boasted a stinging sales price. Due to that, the Baja failed to hit its targets and was ultimately dropped by Subaru.
Pontiac GTO
Following a 29-year hiatus, the Pontiac GTO made its long-awaited return in 2003. But boy, was it a disappointment! While the vehicle had a great V8 engine and excellent transmission options, the exterior design absolutely sucked. It was far too bulky for a muscle car. The GTO's comeback only lasted for three years.
AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer was a runaway sales success when it first came out. Yet the good times didn't last. The car was eventually bombared by criticism, with folks complaining about its weight, fuel efficiency, and design. Its sales figures tapered off within a couple of years, which really hurt AMC.
Vector W8
The Vector W8 was a visual delight and performed like a dream. What's not to love here? Quite a bit, actually! The car had issues with its gearbox and cooling system, which made its high price even harder to justify. It failed in its pursuit to become a mainstream name.
Fisker Karma
The Fisker Karma did tick a lot of boxes as a plug-in hybrid. It was fast, powerful, and looked great. But there were problems here. The key battery and mirrors suffered due to iffy electronics, while the miles-per-gallon was pretty poor. Fisker eventually went bankrupt, so only 2,450 Karmas were ever built.
BMW 318ti
Was the BMW 318ti a good-looking motor? That's up for debate. The car's unique design didn't win everyone over. The same could also be said about its performance. It lacked speed and power on the road. And to top it off, it was expensive. The 318ti wasn't a storming success!
Maybach
In an attempt to compete against Bentley and Rolls-Royce, Daimler resuscitated the dormant Maybach brand in 2002. Was it a success, though? Nope! The two car variants produced by Maybach, the 62 and the 57, were sales flops. Daimler dropped it in 2013.
Scion IQ
When the Toyota iQ arrived in America, it was sold under the Scion brand. Regardless of the name, though, this car struggled to find many fans. It wasn't that practical, it lacked a cool factor, and the price wasn't too friendly. The iQ's sales figures were shockingly bad!
Pontiac Trans Sport
It's difficult to see the Trans Sport as anything more than a failure for Pontiac. The vehicle was criticized for its uncomfortable interior, poor handling, and worrying safety record. The state of the brakes was a particularly big concern.
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Volkswagen Phaeton tried its best to muscle in on the BMW 7-series and Mercedes-Benz S-class' turf. But this heavy motor failed to leave its mark. The ludicrously high prices played a role in that, with one Volkswagen figure admitting, "We couldn't give them away." Yikes!
Isuzu VehiCROSS
The Isuzu VehiCROSS definitely had its plus points. It looked intriguing, performed brilliantly off-road, and was fun to drive. But the car wasn't a sales success. Its limited practicality as an SUV might've contributed to that.
Cadillac Catera
One of the Cadillac Catera's biggest aims was to attract a younger demographic to the brand. We'll be blunt — it didn't work! The ad campaign was a dud, while the car itself had reliability concerns. The Catera's production run ended after just five years.
Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible
Underpowered, uncool, poorly put-together — we could go on! Yes, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible faced a lot of criticism following its release. The initial excitement surrounding it soon made way for frustration and disappointment if you owned one.
Ford Edsel
Arguably the most infamous flop in automobile history, we couldn't not include the Ford Edsel on this list! It was an epic disaster from start to finish. The marketing promised too much, it was released with a high price during a recession, and it looked terrible. Folks weren't tripping over themselves to buy one during its two-year production run.
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