Mitsubishi I-MiEv
Is the Mitsubishi i-MiEv the best-looking car in the world? No chance. But surely it makes up for that in other ways, right? Right?! Nope. This electric motor suffers with unstable handling and has a dreadful range. We're talking 60 miles or so in mild conditions. It's even lower in cold weather!
Nissan Titan
Is the Nissan Titan worth pursuing if you want a solid foreign truck? Apparently not! According to Consumer Reports, this beast has questionable reliability as the years roll on. Its styling, towing capacity, and ride quality have all been criticized by previous owners. What a bummer. And our next entry isn't looking too pretty, either...
Jaguar X-Type
Was the Jaguar X-Type a more affordable option from the company's lineup? Most definitely. Does that make it immune to criticism, though? No chance! Using a modified Ford Mondeo platform, the X-Type drew cries of derision from motorists who felt that it lacked the characteristics of a Jag. The disappointment was palpable.
Mini Cooper Clubman
The Mini Cooper Clubman almost feels like an evolved Pokémon — a bad one, at that! Yes, this motor is essentially a stretched Mini Cooper. But the extra doors don't do much for it. As for the car itself, it suffers with transmission problems and has a dodgy engine. Ouch.
Mercedes CLA
Similar to the GLA, the Mercedes CLA has its detractors as well. So what's the problem here? Why is this foreign motor getting it in the neck? Simple — its long-term reliability is a major concern for those who own it. The snug interior also raises plenty of eyebrows.
Fiat Strada
We won't lie to you, folks — the Fiat Strada isn't a bad vehicle. Not at all. It's got excellent handling and makes for a fun drive in tighter spots. But we can't ignore its issues. The lack of cargo space is one of the biggest complaints. You'd never guess that when looking at the exterior!
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage isn't a complete washout. Its fuel economy is actually pretty good across all available powertrains. So that's a plus. Beyond that, though? Oh dear. The base model and mild-hybrid options are severly underpowered. 187 horsepower for the former and 145 horsepower for the latter? No wonder folks don't like it.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Poor acceleration? Check. A lame interior? Check. An iffy engine? Sadly! Yep, the Land Rover Discovery Sport is a pretty problematic motor. Turbocharger failures and premature wear on the timing chain are two of the most significant concerns under the hood. Oil dilution is another worry as well. Doesn't make for good reading, right?
Toyota Tacoma
Visually, the Toyota Tacoma looks fantastic. Is it a good vehicle to own, though? Not according to Consumer Reports! Its reliability has come into question there, while other concerns have been raised, too. Uncomfortable seats? A stiff ride? Loud cabin noise? Oh boy. Does our next entry fare any better? Let's find out.
Chevrolet Aveo
We'll give this to the Chevrolet Aveo — it's got a pretty decent fuel economy. Other than that? Hmm. Originally developed by Daewoo, this subcompact car is frequently criticized for its look, its poor interior, and frankly woeful performances. 13.7 seconds to reach 60 mph? What! It's like driving in molasses.
Subaru WRX
Is the Subaru WRX much to shout about? It doesn't seem so! This car has a really iffy reliability score from Consumer Reports. J.D. Power's ranking isn't a whole lot better, either. Keeping that in mind, it's very hard to justify the WRX's high prices today.
Mercedes GLA
It's fair to say that the Mercedes GLA doesn't have the biggest of fan clubs. A Consumer Reports survey ripped it to pieces! Only 44 percent of previous owners admitted that they'd happily buy another one. Oof. Maybe the bad gearbox and cramped rear seating had something to do with that? But this isn't the only problematic foreign vehicle to cause headaches for American drivers...
Fiat 500e
Were you put off the 500e when Fiat's former CEO told folks to swerve it? No? Well, maybe you should've been! While Sergio Marchionne's comments were financially-motivated, the car itself does have problems. A loud interior? A jerky ride? Oof. And to top it off, the 500e isn't that durable in collisions either, according to insurers.
Fiat 500L
So, is the Fiat 500L a better bet than the 500e? The signs aren't great, in all honesty! Its reliability score on Consumer Reports seems to dip each year. The car's electronics, brakes, and power equipment can cause significant issues for unlucky owners. Fixing it up doesn't come cheap, folks.
Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos ticked a lot of boxes upon its release in America back in the '90s. It looked cool and had a budget-friendly price-tag. But you couldn't ignore its problems. Performances were lackluster, the interior features were underwhelming, and the overall build quality left much to be desired.
Volkswagen Touareg
Vehicles with complex engines can be an absolute nightmare to maintain. That's certainly the case with the Volkswagen Touareg. Its early V10 TDIs and more recent V6 plug-in hybrids are both very hard to look after. And fixing them? Oh man. Even the smallest issue can cost you big bucks. We can hear your poor wallet's screams!
Hyundai Excel
Did the Hyundai Excel...well...excel upon its release in the 1980s? Sort of. This vehicle received a lot of love for both its reliability and its fuel economy. But the early models did pose problems. They were prone to bad rust and had questionable interior quality. Our next entry is arguably worse, though...
Mazda RX-8
Are you looking to pick up a Mazda RX-8 on the used market? If so, take it from us — that's a bad idea! This car has some serious problems with its rotary engine. The reported issues include apex seal wear, coil pack failure, carbon buildup, low compression, and engine flooding. What a horror show.
Kia Cadenza
There's much to admire about the Kia Cadenza. It handles well, has a spacious interior, and isn't too noisy. But don't be fooled, folks — this is still a pretty troublesome motor. The climate system, the fuel system, and the engine are known to be very unreliable. Your local repair shop will feel like a second home before long!
Volkswagen Golf TDI
We can't help but wonder — is the Volkswagen Golf TDI more trouble than it's worth? The evidence is pretty damning! Cars with high mileage are prone to worrying transmission issues, while the rear brakes show wear and tear far too quickly. The concerns don't end there, either. Why put yourself through so much stress?
Mitsubishi Mirage
Is that a good car we see? Or is it just a mirage? Sorry — we couldn't resist! But the point still stands. The Mitsubishi Mirage isn't that great. It's got a lame interior, static acceleration, and handles really poorly. The motor's often described as clumsy and weak. Yikes.
Smart ForTwo
The Smart ForTwo has a tremendous fuel economy. And honestly? That's about it! U.S. buyers were horrified by this car's list of problems upon its release. The complete lack of storage space? The awful transmission? Oh boy. The ForTwo's questionable look didn't help things, either.
Suzuki Samurai
How's this for a wild story? The Suzuki Samurai enjoyed a strong debut in America back in the '80s — until a Consumer Reports study changed everything. According to that 1988 report, this vehicle was prone to dangerous rollovers. And people listened. With its reputation in tatters, the Samurai's sales plummeted. Fast.
Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada isn't all bad. It's got awesome towing capabilities and makes for a quiet drive. But the vehicle's issues are significant. The biggest is arguably its fuel economy. To put it bluntly, it sucks! The 4x4 models can only manage 15 mpg combined, while the rear-wheel drive options get 16 mpg combined. Oh dear.
Jaguar F-Pace
Jaguar finally entered the SUV market with the F-Pace in 2016. Was it worth the wait, though? That's debatable. Consumer Reports questioned this motor's reliability, while its driving systems and loud cabin were big concerns, too. Is our next entry much better? There's only one way to find out...
Volvo XC90
Does the Volvo XC90 have some plus points? You bet. It's got an excellent transmission and a nice engine. On the inside, though? It's chaos! The XC90's electronics are woeful to say the least. Consumer Reports gave them a savage rating when the SUV was tested.
Jaguar XE
Oh man. Where do we start with the Jaguar XE? It's pretty much a headache on wheels! Cramped rear seats? A buggy infotainment system? Iffy interior materials? It has all those problems. Ah, and we can't forget about the engine. Its auto stop-start function is really poor.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a gorgeous car. You could stare at it for hours! But don't be blinded by its beauty — this thing is seriously unreliable. Mechanical problems are frequently flagged up by owners, with Consumer Reports giving it a lowly score.
Renault Alliance
Good fuel economy aside, was the Renault Alliance a decent car to own back in the '80s? Probably not! It had iffy build quality, troublesome electrical systems, and a boring exterior. It didn't get much better on the road, either. Performances were as dull as dishwater.
Triumph Stag
The Triumph Stag had all the tools to be a huge success. A slick exterior? A V8 engine? It should've worked. But it didn't — quite literally! The V8 had a nasty tendency to overheat, leaving drivers in the lurch. It was a massive disappointment.
Suzuki X-90
What do you get if you combine a coupe, a convertible, and an SUV into a single vehicle? This monstrosity! Yep, the Suzuki X-90 is one of the weirdest-looking cars you'll find. And it's not that good, either. Bad peformances and a cramped interior? No thanks.
Lancia Beta
The Lancia Beta did a lot right back in the '70s. It had a stylish body, a comfortable interior, and wonderful handling. Yet terrible rust issues and reliability concerns really hurt this motor in the long run.
Renault Dauphine
It's fair to say that the Renault Dauphine didn't have the best reputation. And it isn't hard to understand why! This car couldn't beat a snail in a race, while its reliability issues eventually took a toll on U.S. sales.
Volkswagen Fox
The Volkswagen Fox isn't a complete disaster. It's got good handling and a spacious interior that passengers will appreciate. Beyond that, though? Hmm. This vehicle is ridiculously unrefined when measured up against Volkswagen's other cars. The features could be better, too.
Morris Marina
We don't want to sound harsh, but the Morris Marina proved to be a very shoddy car. Its build quality was woeful, the steering system was wildly unpredictable, and the suspension was a nightmare. It flopped in America.
Through: Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons