2024 Toyota Tacoma
Nice interior aside, is the 2024 Toyota Tacoma a good vehicle to go for today? Well, some owners might shoo you away! The hybrid powertrain models give off a distracting vibration on the road, while the transmission is prone to outright failure.
Pontiac Aztek
It's fair to say that the Pontiac Aztek had a lot of hype around it prior to its release. Yet all that excitement quickly fizzled away when the car finally rolled out. Yes, the Aztek's questionable looks have been debated for years, but that wasn't the only problem here. Owners were left frustrated with its poor build quality and iffy performances, too. It was a major disappointment.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser was certainly unique. That exterior design continues to catch the eye! But owning one wasn't fun. At all. This car had a raft of issues. The handling sucked, the on-board tech was outdated, performances left a lot to be desired, and the interior quality was woeful. Yikes.
DeLorean DMC-12
Based on appearances alone, the DeLorean DMC-12 is one of the coolest-looking cars ever created. But man — everything else about it was a huge disappointment. Motorists were stunned by the vehicle's dreadful acceleration and equally bad performances. It wasn't very reliable, either. The DMC-12's starring role in the Back to the Future trilogy couldn't change all that.
Jaguar XJ (X351)
The Jaguar XJ (X351) was absolutely stunning. From the beautiful exterior design to the lush interior, it did plenty right. But make no mistake, folks — this car was a pain to own. People had to contend with bad build quality, lame infotainment systems, and infuriating glitches. Reliability was a concern as well.
Ford Focus RS
The Ford Focus RS ticked a bunch of boxes. It looked cool, had tremendous handling, and provided some sweet performances on the road. So what's the issue? Simple — it was a nightmare to maintain! Head gasket failures weren't uncommon in later models, while the car's overall reliability was questionable to say the least.
Fiat 500L
A stylish exterior will only get you so far, folks. If everything else is a bust, then you're in trouble! That was certainly the case with the Fiat 500L. It proved to be a big disappointment. There were mechanical problems galore, while the car's lack of refinement couldn't be ignored, either.
Hummer H2
To call the Hummer H2 eye-catching feels like an understatement. This thing was enormous! But as owners soon found out, that came at a cost. The H2 was ridiculously impractical on the road, burning through gas in the blink of an eye. On top of that, it didn't make for a particularly comfortable ride.
Chevrolet Volt
As a plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt excited a lot of people upon its release. Did it live up to the hype, though? Nope! Folks were really disappointed with the car's range. And the maintenance costs? Oof. It wasn't cheap to fix up the battery or the electrical components.
Nissan Juke
Boasting turbocharged engine options and a fascinating look, the Nissan Juke has plenty in its favor. Is it perfect, though? No chance! Earlier models don't have the best interior build quality, while newer Jukes still suffer from a lack of space. They're really cramped. But is our next entry much better?
Dodge Caliber
Bad engine options? Check. An iffy interior? Check. An uncomfortable ride? Unfortunately! Yep, the Dodge Caliber was a major disappointment upon its release. The lack of refinement in its performances frustrated the life out of those who bought one. People were pining for the return of the Neon quite quickly.
Jeep Compass (First Generation)
We won't beat around the bush here — the first generation Compass was a real swing-and-a-miss from Jeep. Owners were left in a state of pure annoyance once they bought one. Why? Well, the vehicle had a poor interior, offered a horrible ride, and didn't have the greatest handling.
BMW I3
Ah, the BMW i3. It wouldn't be unfair to say that many people were let down by this thing when it first rolled out. The range was really poor in the earlier models. 80 miles or so? Ugh! The EV's design split opinion as well. Some liked it, while others absolutely loathed it.
Toyota Prius C
How best to describe the Toyota Prius c. Underwhelming? Sluggish? Boring? All of the above? Yes, it was a pretty disappointing motor. Folks were left slack-jawed by the car's glacial acceleration and its basic interior. It could've been so much better. Can the same be said of our next entry, though?
Cadillac Cimarron
It could be argued that the Cadillac Cimarron is the ultimate poster child when it comes to disappointing cars. People hated this thing! And it's not hard to understand why. It offered horrendous performances and had terrible on-board features. Cadillac had to work really hard to restore its reputation after this misfire.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross a fun motor to drive? That's up for debate. Lots of owners have been left disappointed by the crossover's output. Its handling and performance often raise eyebrows, while the overall driving experience could be significantly better. Is our next entry in the same boat? Let's find out...
Smart ForTwo
As a two-seater city car, the Smart ForTwo had a lot of promise when it first came out. Did it live up to those expectations, though? Maybe not. Motorists had to contend with shaky rides behind the wheel. And the interior space? It was practically non-existant.
Subaru B9 Tribeca
The Subaru B9 Tribeca was a pretty quirky motor. It sported an intriguing design and had a four-wheel drive layout. But did people like it? Not quite! The vehicle's third row of seating was incredibly cramped, while its fuel economy left much to be desired as well.
Volkswagen Phaeton
Was the Volkswagen Phaeton the worst car in the world? Absolutely not. It had excellent build quality and offered some nice features. But the price was a big bone of contention — even for those who bought one. The ownership costs were incredibly high here, raising a few eyebrows.
Acura ZDX
The Acura ZDX is an awesome car to look at. Driving one, though? That's a different story! The lack of rear visibility is a major problem, as is the limited headroom. Oh, and the cargo space — what cargo space? The ZDX's sloping roofline is a large source of frustration.
Ferrari Roma Spider
Visually, the Ferrari Roma Spider is a fantastic motor to gawk at. But is it a good car to own? That's up in the air. Its infotainment system is hugely disappointing, while some have also found its overall performances to be much too loose. What a bummer.
Tesla Model Y
There's no getting away from it, folks — the Tesla Model Y continues to disappoint drivers in EV circles. The most glaring issue is the car's ride quality. To put it bluntly, it absolutely sucks! The Model Y offers very stiff performances at lower speeds on the road.
Dacia Spring
Owning a Dacia Spring isn't a piece of a cake. This car has some extremely frustrating issues! People have found the handling to be terrible due to the choice of tires, while the steering is worryingly slow as well. The Spring's suspension is a big problem, too.
Skywell BE11
Is the Skywell BE11 a good car to have on your driveway? No — it's as simple as that! It's disappointing across the board. The infotainment system is ridiculously complex, the build quality's lame, the handling is atrocious, and the brakes are far too spongy. Buy one at your peril...
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester does the business in a lot of ways. It's practical, resilient, and looks fantastic on the road. But certain aspects are undoubtedly disappointing. The Foresters with gas powertrains are horribly inefficient, while some of the on-board tech feels pretty outdated compared to the competition.
Alfa Romeo Junior
At a glance, the Alfa Romeo Junior looks pretty awesome. Is it perfect, though? No way! The brakes are a big disappointment here. Some owners have found them to be concerningly spongy and unresponsive at times. Yikes. But that's nothing compared to our next entry's list of issues...
Peugeot E-3008
Poor ride quality. Cumbersome handling. A cramped interior! Yep, the Peugeot e-3008 ticks many unwanted boxes. It's a brutally underwhelming vehicle, regardless of the things that it does right. Rival motors such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6, and the Renault Scenic E-Tech are arguably better bets.
2025 Kia K5
On looks alone, the 2025 Kia K5 is an easy car to fall in love with. But it might break your heart if you buy one! This vehicle has an iffy transmission, a weak engine, and isn't that exciting to drive. Quite the trifecta.
2023 Nissan Ariya
There's much to admire about the 2023 Nissan Ariya. It's got a cool look, a swanky interior, and exciting powertrain options. Yet the SUV isn't without its problems. Folks have complained about its soft brakes, light steering, and unforgiving suspension on rough roads.
2017 Honda CR-V
Do people have a right to feel disappointed with the 2017 Honda CR-V? We'd say so. This car has a laundry-list of problems. We're talking engine oil dilution, electrical issues, head gasket troubles, stiff steering — stuff like that. It's hard to overlook, folks!
Ineos Grenadier
The Ineos Grenadier is a prime example of style over substance. Yes, it looks fantastic, but owners have had to contend with some glaring issues. The biggest of those is the overall ride quality. To call it a disappointment feels like an understatement.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Hands up if you're a fan of the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. We don't blame you. It's a gorgeous vehicle. But owning one can be a challenge. People have reported problems with the infotainment setup, the hybrid system, and the front motor module. Oof!
Fisker Ocean
We'll give this to the Fisker Ocean — it's got excellent range and offers a very comfortable ride for the most part. But the car's software glitches are a constant source of disappointment and worry. They're absurdly buggy, leaving drivers on tenterhooks.
MG Cyberster
The MG Cyberster is beauty and the beast rolled into one. It's insanely powerful, producing over 500 horsepower on the road. Woah. Mind you, the car isn't a slam-dunk. The steering, braking, suspension, and handling have all been flagged up as disappointing by those who own one.
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster certainly has its plus points. Yet we can't ignore the drawbacks, folks. The lack of advanced safety features? The basic interior? The annoying infotainment glitches? Gah! On top of that, people have also complained about engine and road noise in the cabin.
Through: IFCAR / Wikimedia Commons