The worst of the worst used cars for reliability?

You don’t always have to look hard to find trouble. While the typical problem rate for each trouble spot in our survey is fairly low, even for 10-year-old vehicles, some models stand out as especially problematic in some areas.

For example:

More than half of the 2004 Infiniti QX56, Nissan Armada, and Nissan Titan owners reported a brake problem. And almost half of 2005 Armada and Titan owners also reported brake problems.

The 1999 BMW 5 Series V8 had the worst engine-cooling-problem rate, with 34 percent. In addition, 2000 to 2001 BMW 5 Series V8 and BMW 7 Series all had about 30 percent of their owners reporting engine-cooling woes.

About a third of 2001 Chrysler Town & Countrys and Dodge Grand Caravans had problems with power equipment such as windows and sliding doors.

Another third of the respondents with the 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class V6 griped about serious electrical problems,as did nearly a third of the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg owners.

Nearly a quarter of owners of the 2001 Acura CL reported a bad transmission problem, and nearly the same percentage of 1999 Volvo XC70s were reported to suffer from fuel-system problems.

The 1998 Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer and the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (V8) had the most temperamental audio systems, with about 20 percent of respondents reporting trouble.


Read Article

Lexus - 3/1/2007 2:40:31 AM

-7 Boost

Good job Toyota and Honda and keep up the good work :)

lewissalem - 3/1/2007 11:03:28 AM

+1 Boost

You mean good job Toyota. Honda was on the list with the '01 Acura CL

humperdeath - 3/1/2007 5:37:09 PM

+1 Boost

Anyone have a UID/PW to read the Consumer Report Article? A bit difficult to comment on it if we cant read it.

r_driver04 - 3/6/2007 10:41:50 AM

+1 Boost

High performance and high fun factor are synonomous w/ average to poor reliability(ex.Porsche 911). You can't push mechanical components that hard and expect them to be trouble free. But a WRX is awefully close achieving both.

sewingmachine - 3/1/2007 2:54:56 AM

+1 Boost

yikes vw and older mercedes, we'll see how the newer benz do.

ceric - 3/1/2007 3:00:23 AM

+1 Boost

>>The 1999 BMW 5 Series V8 had the worst engine-cooling-problem rate, with 34 percent. In addition, 2000 to 2001 BMW 5 Series V8 and BMW 7 Series all had about 30 percent of their owners reporting engine-cooling woes.<<

This is wrong. It has to be more than 34%!!!
I have a '98 540 and it has got me stranded twice due to cooling system. The whole cooling system has been replaced over the recent two years. Hose, radiator, tank, thermostat, pump... you name it.

sewingmachine - 3/1/2007 3:15:58 AM

+1 Boost

remember when times get tough, there's always prestige and soul.

kart1 - 3/1/2007 12:09:03 PM

0 Boost

LOL!

1970toyotamarc - 3/1/2007 12:11:03 PM

0 Boost

and magic feel

Will_ - 3/1/2007 12:23:00 PM

-2 Boost

Don't forget "Germanesque."

SilverAero - 3/1/2007 3:08:28 AM

+2 Boost

Funny i don't see any GM

StepYaGameUp - 3/1/2007 7:10:57 AM

+3 Boost

I own a 2001 c320. worst mistake of my life.
electrical problems are never ending. my passenger side power seat is always go haywire. my cd player only plays
official CDs, no burned Cds will play and every Cd must be in perfect condition. Esp stop working once in a while, sunroof gets stuck. TERRIBLE, and it must be common cuz my mercedes benz mechanic is familiar with every fault i show up with. SAD. 2001 was a bad bad year for the c class.

no1listensanyway - 3/1/2007 10:15:01 AM

+3 Boost

My freinds sister had the same problem with the sunroof. She said it had a mind of its own, it especially liked staying open in the rain.

BMW995 - 3/1/2007 9:34:07 AM

+4 Boost

I just sold my mint condition BMW 323i automatic. The forums are full of posts on this transmission failing as soon as 40,000 mi. $5000 replacement cost, if you can find one (failing so fast replacements are hard to find).
I didn't want to be stranded on a trip so I bought a '07 Lexus IS250. Great car but I loved the driving dynamics of the BMW. Like having your wonderful 7 yr old dog taken away from you and someone giving you a new dog as a replacement. I'm sick...

r_driver04 - 3/1/2007 1:15:37 PM

-3 Boost

Lexus and BMW driving dynamics are quite different. But you made the smart move.

r_driver04 - 3/1/2007 1:15:38 PM

-4 Boost

Lexus and BMW driving dynamics are quite different. But you made the smart move.

mkaresh - 3/1/2007 10:27:37 AM

+2 Boost

"Brake problem" generally means they needed a basic brake job. Problem is, CR lets respondents decide whether a problem is "serious" enough to report. So some people will report routine brake jobs, while others won't.

quizz - 3/1/2007 11:45:47 AM

0 Boost

I can't believe BMW still has not exorcised its "engine cooling problem" that's been around since the early 1980s! I didnt realize the problem stuck around into the late 90's. That's unacceptable. Well, at least they fixed the I-6 engine cooling issues, and forgot to fix the V8 engine cooling issues.

Loki123 - 3/1/2007 12:37:31 PM

-1 Boost

BMW and Infiniti doesn't surprise me at all.. They look nice - just keep them in your driveway and don't drive them - they have the "best" driveway reliability...and they will be the envy of your neighbours.

BMW + Infiniti = all sizzle and no reliability

Designer1 - 3/1/2007 2:08:45 PM

-1 Boost

Yep, Honda had transmission problem starting in 90s with the Accord. Now that's another prove not to buy German cars seriously. Not a single person that have owned a German car that I know, including myself, have said anything good about them, other than, they're fun to drive. But the question is, how often do we drive for fun, but use the car for our daily commute? So reliability definitely is #1 no question asked. Great job Toyota, just please don't fall behind now that your cars are manufactured in the states as we do see some slippages in some of them.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/1/2007 11:47:05 PM

+2 Boost

Actually, new cars are known to have bugs. Mercedes will probably have worked them out by the 2008 model year... there could be an ML550 by then.

denuyl - 3/1/2007 6:23:59 PM

+1 Boost

well, I don't know in what conditions you drive your cars, but I drove my 2006 550 (yes, it's one of those notorious V8's) last month twice over a distance of 800 miles with speeds ranging from 120 to 140 mph (on the German "autobahn"), only stopping for fuel, without any overheating problems. you should note that this, beiing my fourth BMW, is the first one that has been absolutely reliable from the start; my first e34 was a disaster, the e39 after that was a lot better, though not perfect, the second e39 was even better and my present car has not developed any problem since I bought it 14
months ago. facit: maybe even BMW has learned a lesson and is improving it's ways. as regarding the japanese "cars": if you even consider buying one, it shows how you think abouth cars: you don't care about your car and are easily pleased with it; this is why they always win the polls

TybeeZ4 - 3/1/2007 7:23:47 PM

+3 Boost

I have a 2005 Z4 3.0 and a 2006 Mercedes CLS 500. Both have been trouble free except a speaker had to be replaced in the BMW. The Benz is the 8th I've owned and almost all of them were problem free. Many of the consumer report complaints regarding MBs are from folks who whine about brake dust on the front wheels... and some do have electrical problems, mostly window motors (inexcusable).

S4cabriofoxone - 3/1/2007 11:49:08 PM

+1 Boost

I should save this post somewhere, because I keep using it...

'00 Audi A6 2.7T quattro- headlight washer cap flew off. That's it.

'98 Audi A4 1.8T quattro- oil leak, easily fixed (bought in 2002).

'05 Audi S4 Cabriolet- no problems to report, so far.

'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG- none. Unless you consider my daughter whining about not being able to turn on the ignition a problem. She always has to turn it more than once, especially in the winter, but then I try to get the same problem and it always works perfectly.

IamEvilHomer - 3/2/2007 2:22:19 PM

+1 Boost

audi rocks

weaponX - 3/2/2007 9:43:34 AM

+2 Boost

I had a 99' 540i and never had any problems in 37,000 miles of driving. Zero, zilch.

I can't deny that a Lexus is probably more reliable, but then the entertainment factor goes down considerably. It's a trade-off.

dano100 - 3/4/2007 11:49:21 AM

+1 Boost

I had a 2001 CL and yes my tranny went at 24,000 miles. Got a 100,000 mile warranty on the "rebuilt" one they put in it. Needless to say I traded it on a 2002 Lexus ES300, whose tranny didn't break but had issues with hesitation at times. Went back to Acura in '05 with a TL. Great tranny but the car had lotsa rattles. Sold it in '06, bought a new Civic. 2 new struts and a third on the way out when I traded it yesterday on a 2006 leftover Mazda 6 Grand Sport @ $9000 off MSRP. What an impressive car. 6 speed transmission, 18" wheels, all the bells and whistles for $20,000. If this Japanese brand doesn't hold up, I'll look at the Americans again.

r_driver04 - 3/6/2007 10:44:42 AM

+1 Boost

Dude, you must be hard as asphalt on cars. ha ha j/k