These SUVs Look Like They Could Take on the World... But They Can't
SUVs are tough, practical, and have space inside for all the family. But you can’t judge a book by its cover, and even the most rugged or sporty SUVs can let you down on the road. Keep reading for our top 35 SUVs that break down too often.
Land Rover Discovery
You probably expected to see the gorgeous but notoriously unreliable Land Rover Discovery on this list, so let’s get into it. The Discovery’s biggest weakness is its engine, which frequently overheats, uses up too much oil, and cuts out due to lack of power.
Chevrolet Traverse
There’s no denying that the Chevy Traverse is a bulky, rugged SUV, but is it reliable? Unfortunately not, and it’s all due to excessive engine wear and tear. Critical components, including the timing chain and suspension, age poorly, causing the engine to misfire or cut out.
Volkswagen Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas was designed to be a competitive modern SUV, and while it looks the part, it doesn’t perform as well as its peers. On top of its braking issues, the engine often cuts out on the road due to leaks and transmission failures.
Tesla Model X
It’s safe to say that Teslas are no longer known for their innovative tech; they’re infamous for breaking down! The Model X’s sins all come back to its battery, which degrades quickly and, subsequently, can’t hold a charge. This leads to disappointing performance on the road.
Jeep Renegade
The Jeep Renegade looks tough, rugged, and heavy-duty, but it’s more of a kitten at heart. Some of the newer Renegades, particularly the 2015 model, have very hesitant engines that waste oil and often break down in extremely hot or cold weather conditions.
GMC Acadia
When it comes to family-sized SUVs, the GMC Acadia is the king. But it needs a serious performance upgrade because the suspension, transmission, and engine all cause it to break down more than it should. It’s definitely the brand’s least reliable SUV.
Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade looks like a beast, but its 6.2-liter engine often struggles to live up to its full potential. On top of frequent engine seizures, the lifter valves on the valve train sometimes block up and cause it to fail entirely.
Nissan Juke
We’re torn on the Nissan Juke because it’s a popular SUV for commuting and family travel, but it’s also more unreliable than a top car should be. It has a known timing chain failure, a problematic clutch, and even the turbocharged versions are weak.
Chrysler Pacifica
Though a well-kept Chrysler Pacifica can reliably exceed 150,000 miles, it is still more likely to break down than other similar SUVs. The hybrid Pacifica is the worst offender because both the gas and electric engines can suddenly lose power while driving.
Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 looks like a formidable vehicle, but it can be just as nerve-wracking to drive. Several owners have reported their XC90s' “phantom braking” due to the autobrake malfunctioning. These Volvos also completely break down frequently due to faulty engine components.
Ford Explorer
You might be surprised to learn that the Ford Explorer is only 35 years old because it feels like it’s been around forever. However, even after all that time, it still breaks down more than it should, and this is mostly due to faulty transmission and sudden engine power loss.
Range Rover Sport
If there’s one thing we know about Range Rovers, it’s that they can be extremely unreliable, and the Sport is definitely one of the worst. The 2-liter diesel engine often fails due to timing chain failures, and the turbocharger causes sudden power cut-outs, too.
Kia Sorento
Kia Sorentos have solid builds, so you’d expect them to be tough and durable, but that’s not always the case. Certain models, especially those produced between 2011 and 2016, are known for having excessive oil leaks and degraded engine components.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Alfa Romeo is known for its sporty vehicles, and the Stelvio is one of its most impressive SUVs. But many Stelvios have engine problems galore, including malfunctioning fuel injectors and spark plugs, both of which make the engine more likely to cut out entirely.
Buick Enclave
Buick Enclaves have become more stylish over the years, but they’re perhaps still best-known for their questionable reliability. The handling is rough and clunky, the timing chain is too loose, and some engines have burned themselves out and needed to be completely replaced.
Volkswagen Taos
The Volkswagen Taos looks like many other modern SUVs: big, strong, and stylish. But we’re not so enraptured by its performance, which is frequently interrupted by engine misfires and abrupt power losses. These issues can be fixed, but they sure are inconvenient.
Jeep Wrangler
Yes, we really went there! The iconic Jeep Wrangler has always looked tough and utilitarian, but certain models are highly (and disappointingly) unreliable. The third-gen models in particular are known for oil and water leaks in the engines, causing them to shake, stall, and fail.
Audi Q5
When it comes to Audi SUVs, there are two things we can say for sure: they look great, and they’re often unreliable. But from fuel pump issues to dodgy transmission to excessive oil consumption, the Q5 is probably the most likely to break down.
Kia Sportage
We hate to put the Kia Sportage on our list because there’s so much to love, but this SUV absolutely breaks down too often. It’s common for the engine to misfire and the gearbox to fail, leading to expensive repairs that put the Sportage out of action for a while.
Mitsubishi Outlander
On paper, the Mitsubishi Outlander is the ideal family SUV, but it’s not quite so practical and reliable on the roads. Certain engine and braking components get worn out prematurely, and those with CVT are particularly liable to break down due to failures.
MG HS
The MG HS is a relatively good SUV, but we wish it didn’t break down so much. The engine can be rough and the handling jerky, which wouldn’t be so bad if certain models didn’t also experience extreme battery drainage. This often makes it unreliable to drive.
Ineos Grenadier
The Ineos Grenadier is the epitome of a tough-looking SUV, but this utilitarian, off-road beast is often let down by engine faults. Battery drainage is the main culprit behind the Grenadier’s frequent breakdowns, with many owners reporting glitches and premature discharge.
Maserati Levante
The Maserati Levante is chock-full of power, but many drivers don’t get to experience it at its best. Diesel models usually fare worse because the diesel particle filters often get clogged, which can damage the engine and cause it to fail when switched on.
Subaru Forester
Though the Subaru Forester tackles off-road terrain like nobody’s business, it often breaks down for the simplest reasons. Problematic oil consumption regularly causes issues with different engine components, causing them to degrade and stop working altogether, especially with infrequent maintenance.
Jeep Patriot
In less than two decades, the Jeep Patriot has become an iconic SUV. But beyond that rugged build is a very poor transmission, which leads to the Patriot breaking down far too often. Sadly, the CVT can’t help but overheat!
Ford Bronco
We could never hate the tough, off-road Ford Bronco, but it’s regularly ranked as one of the least-reliable SUVs on the market. Some models have suffered catastrophic engine failure due to oil leaks and fractured valves, leading to serious recalls.
Rivian R1S
Despite only being around for a few years, the Rivian R1S has firmly cemented itself as a divisive SUV. The only real issue is its 12V battery, which often discharges, causing abrupt loss of power while driving and disrupting the otherwise great driving experience.
Nissan Pathfinder
A well-maintained Nissan Pathfinder can serve you for life, but that’s not without a few bumps along the way! It’s another SUV that has a dodgy CVT, causing the engine to shudder, idle roughly, and completely cut out. Don’t ignore that check engine light!
Dodge Durango
The Dodge Durango has naturally evolved since its initial ‘90s production, but it could still use some mechanical upgrades. The earliest models are the worst for engine failures, which are most often caused by cheap parts and issues cooling the oil and fuel systems.
BMW X2
When it comes to underrated SUVs, the BMW X2 certainly fits the bill, but this heavy-set vehicle is a tad too faulty for our taste. The 3-cylinder engines have unreliable turbochargers, which often cause further issues with oil consumption and increase the likelihood of breaking down.
Hyundai Kona EV
Modern SUVs are just as tough as their predecessors, and the Hyundai Kona is no exception. But the EV version is pretty unreliable, with a battery that often can’t sustain itself during transit, leading to sudden breakdowns due to loss of charge.
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe has both bulk and bite, but is it reliable? Unfortunately, it’s prone to breaking down far too often. Some owners have reported catastrophic engine failures at low mileages, most commonly caused by wasted oil and unreliable transmission.
GMC Yukon
This next SUV is the definition of a tough-looking vehicle, but its power doesn’t always work in its favor. Its 6-liter V8 engine has been formally investigated for defects due to an influx of owners reporting issues with its performance, including some catastrophic failures on the road.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
There’s a lot to like about the various Mercedes-Benz GLE models, but their mechanical issues are not one of them! The fuel injection system is typically unreliable, and many engine components, including the pistons and spark plugs, often degrade and fail.
Ford Escape
Finally, we had to end with one of the most famously tough SUVs of all: the Ford Escape. But even this car isn’t immune to breaking down, and it’s usually due to poor engine cooling, turbo failures, and coolant leaks. But at least the Escape looks good!
