2014 Least Reliable Cars - Who is the Worst?

[G. David Felt]

G. David Felt
Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer
www.CheersandGears.com

 

Top 10 Least Reliable Cars

 

Consumers Report published their annual best and worst reliable cars. If your wanting to look at the best go here Reliable Cars.

 

For this story, you could watch the videos and dive through the mountain of spreadsheets that consumers reports has for their data, but MSN Auto helped out by focusing on the top 10 least reliable cars and here is their list. The predicted reliability score was 125% below that of the average car. 

 

#1 - Scion xB 125% below the average auto

#2 - Mercedes-Benz S-Class 127% below average

#3 - Infiniti Q50 127% below average

#4 - Jeep Grand Cherokee (Diesel) 134% below average

#5 - Dodge Dart 140% below average

#6 - Chevrolet Cruze 1.4T 143% below average

#7 - Nissan Pathfinder 154% below average

#8 - Ford Fiesta 162% below average

#9 - Jeep Cherokee (4-cyl) 176% below average

#10 - Fiat 500L 219% below average

 

The issues seem to be focused on either the power train, suspension such as the active system in the S-Class from Mercedes-Benz or electrical.

 

The one area that no car seemed to really have issues with is the body / paint jobs.

 

So the question to be asked here is as follows:

 

Are we building auto's to complex for our own good?

Do we really need all these electronics in an auto?

Do we really need all the sophisticated power train variables?

Would it be better to focus on a more radical jump in autos by setting a dead line to move away from fossil fuel auto's to EV or Hydrogen?

 

The questions can be endless and I hope this gets you to start thinking about what is important to you. One thing is for sure, some of these auto's will not be on my list for shopping, others would be such as the Cheverolet Cruze which got knocked for drive shaft / axel seals and GM has addressed this according to GM's web site.

 

What are your thoughts on this list? Is it right or is Consumers reports to critical?

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't put much stock into CR's reporting.  They used to report Hummer fuel economy as a "problem" with the vehicle.

 

uh... duh.