Top 10 Worst Car Companies

Let's be honest, no one wants to drive a clunker. Cars that constantly break down, guzzle gas, or just feel unsafe are a major pain. We rely on our vehicles to get around, so the last thing you need is another headache on wheels.

But what are the automakers responsible for these automotive nightmares? You've likely heard horror stories about certain brands or have even experienced a lemon yourself. It's pretty clear that not all car companies are created equal. Some leave a much worse taste in your mouth than others.

The Top Ten

Ford

The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903, and it pioneered assembly-line manufacturing for mass production. Its product portfolio includes the Ford and Lincoln... read more

The frequency with which items fail on Ford vehicles is stunning. Things that used to last 20-60 years, or even longer on older vehicles, now rust, fail, fall off, break apart, or were never correctly installed in the first place. The engineering is so poor that one has to wonder if Ford even employs any qualified engineers.
If you buy a Ford, the best strategy is to keep it in the garage and only drive it during dry, sunny weather. Constantly praying might also be advisable. The acronym Fix Or Repair Daily is now truer than ever. Scary As Hell should be Ford's new name.

All of you here are glorifying older models. I could say that about my older Chevy truck. I love that machine. I can't help it. I love the classic F-150s as well. But let's face it, today's Ford and Chevy vehicles are garbage.
After hitting 60k on my 2015 Focus ST, I had to make sure everything was in check. Everything became super high-maintenance. The engine was faulty. The brakes actually loosened up about 25k miles in. It was leaking oil too. I sold it and bought a Fusion instead. Garbage. Now I'm stuck with more garbage.
Audi

Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer that designs, engineers, produces, markets, and distributes luxury vehicles. It is a member of the Volkswagen Group and is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Audi is known for its advanced technology, distinctive design, and performance-oriented vehicles... read more

Audi - where to begin? Engines are like hand grenades, transmissions fail, wishbones like to bend, plastics fall apart if they're not cracking, rims are weak and crack all the time - all within the first 100,000 km. And the parts are not cheap.
But it's hard to feel sorry for Audi owners, really - after all, they did circle the problem four times!

Really bad cars with horrible engines that go after 100,000 miles. People here just like them and are defending them because they're "luxury" cars like a BMW or Mercedes, which really aren't much better. Audis are just glorified Volkswagens.
Dodge

Dodge is an American brand of automobiles, minivans, and SUVs founded in 1900. The brand is now owned by Stellantis and focuses on producing high-performance and durable vehicles. Dodge is best known for its muscle cars, such as the Charger and Challenger, which combine power with comfort to offer exciting... read more

I agree that the older Mopars had pretty durable engines, such as the 225 Slant Six and the old Torqueflites. The biggest enemy with old Mopars is rust. They rusted badly. I had a '73 Plymouth Duster 340 that I purchased used in 1980. It was one of the most mechanically reliable cars I've ever owned, clocking nearly 200,000 miles on the original engine.
The Duster's fit and finish weren't that great, but it was mechanically very sound and reliable. Driving my Duster on those salty Ohio roads, the body and K-frame were badly rotted. I ended up scrapping the car in 1990. I still miss my old Duster. The last Mopar I owned was a 1999 Dodge Intrepid, purchased new, that was absolute junk. The transmission blew up at only 5,000 miles, and I had a myriad of electrical, brake, paint, and mechanical problems with that car. It also had the horrible 2.7 V6, which has become the worst engine Chrysler ever built. I ended up selling the Intrepid two years later and buying a used 1996 Honda Accord, which was extremely reliable and beautifully constructed.
I personally believe Chrysler won't survive unless they can really, truly reinvent themselves with cutting-edge new designs, like hybrids and electrics, and strive for excellent quality in their cars.
Fiat

Fiat is an Italian automobile manufacturer that was founded in 1899. It is now part of the multinational automotive group Stellantis.
Fiat produces a variety of vehicles, including small city cars and commercial models. The company focuses on offering affordable, efficient, and stylish vehicles... read more

Fiats are about as exciting as water. There's absolutely nothing special about them. Yet, they are planning on discontinuing some of the last good cars, like the Hellcat, even though they haven't come out with anything new in years.

Fiat produces ugly, disgustingly outdated cars. They lag behind everyone else in terms of car manufacturing. I think Fiat will eventually have to shut down their terrible, awful company due to their disgraceful cars.

They destroyed Chrysler! They ruined most Jeeps and made the Charger ugly. And how could I forget to mention the part where they ordered the crushing of 93 rare Vipers?
Tata

What a disgrace to humanity. At least the Yugo had character, Ford had the GT, and Fiat had the Coupé. But Tata has nothing. Sure, they are cheap, but so is a testicular amputation. Would you want that? Just because they financially own Jaguar Land Rover does not make them equivalent manufacturers. This is why India is a failed republic.

This is the stupidest car company ever. Their 2013 model cars look like 2008 model cars. They look so old-fashioned and cheap.

Tata is a brand not worthy of owning Jaguar and Land Rover when their own cars are hideous.
Chrysler

Chrysler is one of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States. The company is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Chrysler is a subsidiary of Stellantis and is known for producing vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands.

Chrysler should be number one on the worst list. I have never known anyone who has owned a Chrysler and hasn't said it was the worst vehicle they have ever owned. Every time you see a car broken down on the highway - save for a flat tire or being out of gas - it is a Chrysler. It's always a Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep.
Look at any reliability list for the last 45+ years, and just about every model Chrysler makes is at the bottom. Try finding one driving in a straight line on the highway. Or find one that is parked within the lines in a parking spot. The people who drive them usually aren't too bright. I guess they have no access to the internet to look up reliability.
Their dealerships are staffed only with the most incompetent service staff and cheesy, suit-wearing, balloon-tying salesmen. Every single feature is an option. What a lousy company. It has already gone bankrupt twice. Maybe the third time is the charm.
Smart

Smart is a German automotive marque that specializes in manufacturing compact and subcompact vehicles. Founded in 1994, the brand is now a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely Holding.
Smart focuses on producing eco-friendly, urban-centric cars known for their small footprint and... read more

They're marketed as premium city cars, but I don't think that's fooling anyone. Yes, they are relatively cheap, but they still cost quite a bit more than their rivals. Calling them even semi-premium cars would be an outright lie. Seriously, what kind of premium car has cup holders as an option? Even the newer models are very poorly equipped, and the higher trims and options are severely overpriced - like 400 euros for LED lights.

There are also Mercedes-Benz Smart cars. These cars are too small, slow, and ugly. I have never bought this car and never will. It's a ripoff of Mini Cooper and Mercedes.
Toyota

Toyota is a Japanese car manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Japan. Some of their most notable models include the Prius, Corolla, and Highlander. Toyota is known for its innovation in hybrid technology and is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world.

What the heck, there are too many Toyotas everywhere. They are ruining opportunities for many other car brands. Most Toyota drivers are very bad drivers. They are even ruining opportunities for their own car brands. Even all the rich people are buying Toyotas. Whoever founded Toyota lost their mind.
Toyota should have been just a brand that makes something else. It would be better if Toyota came after Lexus, Subaru, and Scion. The best scenario would be if Toyota didn't exist until 2017, or if Toyota only made the Land Cruiser, Supra, and the GT86 plug-in hybrid supercar.

Toyota's trucks are unreliable, and some Toyotas are not rated well, except for the Toyota Sienna. By the way, they are worse than Audis. Toyota interiors are ugly. They look old and all look the same.
I would rather get an Audi than a Toyota. I hate that Toyota's sports cars and the Toyota Highlander do not rate well. So, if you think Audis are the worst, but they make better cars than Toyota, then Toyota should be at the number one spot for worst car brands.
Jeep

Jeep is an American automobile brand known for its rugged sport utility vehicles. It is currently owned by Stellantis, a multinational corporation formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. Jeep has been part of the Chrysler family since 1987 and continues to produce... read more

I hate when Jeep owners think their Jeep is cool and tough. Well, my Ford F750 has more power than every Jeep combined. You can't go anywhere in a Jeep because it will flip and break. A Jeep is nothing but a junk box.

I have to agree with modern Jeep being on the list because of the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Renegade, and Compass. They are horrid vehicles. However, Jeep pre-2006 is a force to be reckoned with.

They look nice (in my opinion), but these cars don't last. I've had a couple of Grand Cherokees, and they both had major problems within 50,000 miles. Now I drive a Honda with over 100,000 miles, and it hasn't had any problems whatsoever.
Yugo

I don't know much about cars, but I do know that the Yugo GV was the Justin Bieber of cars. I feel bad for all the Yugoslavians in the mid-1980s who had to buy one, and then another after their first one was destroyed in a 0.1 km/h collision.

Yugos are ugly and horrible! They should be ranked number one! They look hideous!

This car company is a rip-off of Volkswagen, and the name is a rip-off of Yugo from Dragon Ball.

The Newcomers

?
Tesla

Personally, I think that Tesla is terrible. They are long on price and acceleration but short on practicality, stability, and reliability. That's why I am considering Asian EVs instead, such as the Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro EV.

Tesla's Autopilot goes wrong and crashes! The Autopilot needs to be updated!

Overrated, overpriced, and just not a good car in general.
?
Daewoo

Simple mechanics, lots of equipments for the money, reliable and cheap. German cars eat lots of money

Why is this on here? Their cars were great

The Contenders

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German automotive manufacturer that was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company produces a wide variety of vehicles including sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and commercial vans.
Volkswagen is one of the largest automakers in the world and has a strong... read more

I'm a used car wholesaler and deal primarily with 5- to 10-year-old cars. In a typical month, I will buy and sell over 100 cars. Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche SUVs are rather problematic and very pricey to repair. They have terrible electrical systems, poor gaskets, and so on. They are on par with Jaguar, Rover, or any subpar brand from Italy.
In all honesty, European brands are generally poorly put together and way overpriced. There's a reason why a 10-year-old Honda Civic is worth more than a 10-year-old S-class Mercedes, Audi A8, or anything else from Europe. Toyota may have recalls, but the customer pays nothing, and the car will run for decades, as will any Honda.
Kia

Kia is a South Korean automotive manufacturer that was established in 1944. It is now a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group and produces a variety of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and electric cars. The company emphasizes innovation, design, and value, with a goal of becoming a leading global automaker... read more

Kia is absolute trash. They can't make reliable cars. When they do seem reliable, it's only because problems start after the warranty ends and aren't immediately obvious to owners. Their diagnostic systems are poorly written and use backward English.

The Kia car is kind of nice, but the Kia Soul is ugly. To top it off, it comes in ugly colors like brown and green.

They will find a way to not honor their warranty. Two major repairs were not covered.
Chevrolet

Chevrolet, colloquially referred to as Chevy and formally the Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company, is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors. Founded in 1911, it is known for producing a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, SUVs, and electric cars. Chevrolet... read more

Chevrolet is one of the worst manufacturers I have ever heard of. I'm not talking about classic Chevrolet. I think the 1980s-1990s Corvette looks awesome. However, it's modern Chevy where things go south.
The reliability is terrible, the quality is poor, and their designs are rip-offs. Models like the Trax, Equinox, Malibu, and the 2020 Blazer are all subpar. Almost everything about Chevrolet is disappointing. It's no wonder Zebra Corner mocks this domestic mess. I would rather get a Nissan Sentra, which is mediocre, over any modern cars made by Chevrolet. All these issues make the Sentra look like a masterpiece, which it is not in reality.
Honda

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft, and power equipment. It is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda is also recognized as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion... read more

Honda is a very good vehicle brand, offering great gas mileage and generally being a safe brand of vehicles. However, they're just boring to look at. The Pilot and the Element look like boxes. The Accord Coupe is okay, and I like the features of the 2014+ models.
The Civic is dull to look at but is a fun car for college or university students. It kind of reminds me of a jet fighter from the driver's seat just because of how the console is set up. Well, you know, it's not as cool, obviously.
The Fit is boring, the CR-Z looks like it came out of Tron, and the CR-V, no matter how much it's updated, is still uncool. It has that "my boring parents drive this" look to it. To Honda's defense, they are affordable, safe, and economical vehicles to own.
Buick
Daihatsu
Lada

These cars have horrible reliability and they are ugly. People who voted for Audi, Ford, and Toyota have clearly never experienced these rotting vehicles. While Lada may be good in Russia, it's not the case in America.

A Lada being tested by an Australian petrolhead caught fire in his driveway. The car wasn't moving or even turned on. Who would want cars that spontaneously combust in their driveway or garage?

Good point. Ladas look like they're from 2010 or 2008 or something like that. I am stunned and ashamed of the design.
Cadillac

Cadillac is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Founded in 1902, Cadillac quickly established a reputation for precision manufacturing and was at the forefront of technological advances in the automotive industry. Today, it remains... read more

I agree with this. Cadillac is pretty bad.
Hyundai

Hyundai Group is a South Korean industrial conglomerate headquartered in Seoul. The group operates across various sectors, including automotive, construction, shipbuilding, and finance. Its automotive division, Hyundai Motor Company, is among the largest car manufacturers in the world.

Hyundai and Kia are Korean cars, but I like Kia better than Hyundai. So this car company has to be the worst because they make horrible motors, especially the Accent.

That car is not worth a penny. My mother had two, and they were nothing but trouble. She will not get suckered into getting another ever.

The front end looks like a fence.
Mercury

Mercury was an automobile division of the Ford Motor Company that operated in the United States. It was established in 1938 and served as a mid-level brand positioned between Ford and Lincoln. Ford discontinued the Mercury brand in 2011 due to declining sales.
Peugeot

Peugeot is a French automotive manufacturer founded in 1810 and formally established as a car company in 1896. It became part of PSA Group and later merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis in January 2021. Today, Peugeot operates under Stellantis and produces a wide range of vehicles... read more

Why is it this low? If you know how bad they are, you know why. They cannot brake properly, have a malfunctioning heating system that can literally explode and catch fire, don't reverse well, and have many features and buttons that permanently lock the back doors and do nothing.
Mini

They might look great but are a headache when they start to give trouble.

Mini Coopers are too small. They look cute but are dangerous and stupid.
Mazda

Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly referred to simply as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1920, the company is known for its use of rotary engine technology and commitment to innovative vehicle design. Mazda's popular models... read more

I will never buy another Mazda 3. Mazda does not know how to make power steering. My Mazda 3 acts like a car without power steering. Never, never again.

I had a 2004 Miata approaching 100k miles, then BAM, engine failure. My dad has a 95 Sable with 175k miles still going strong. Outrageous, they definitely deserve to be on this list.

The worst car I ever drove! I hope one day people will understand that Mazdas are really low-quality cars.
Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Group is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies that operate across a wide range of industries, including automotive, finance, electronics, and heavy industries. The group traces its origins to a shipping firm established by Yataro Iwasaki in 1870. While the companies share... read more

Mitsubishi has become trash for discontinuing the Eclipse and transforming it into a pathetic SUV.

I hate that Mitsubishi discontinued the Evo and Lancer Evolution. Now they have no fast models.
Isuzu