Just because a vehicle is highly rated doesn’t mean it’s a good car or worth the purchase. After all, not every website is reputable or gives unbiased reviews. Even if you do choose a legitimate review platform, each person’s experience with a specific make or model can differ, meaning you could get wildly different ratings for what’s essentially the same car.
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If you’re buying a vehicle based on its online ratings, look for ones that are comprehensive — such as those done by Consumer Reports. This platform uses an overall score that includes the vehicle’s reliability, safety, road-test performance and owner satisfaction.
It’s also a good idea to cross-reference information about the vehicle you’re considering buying before committing to it — J.D. Power and Edmunds.com are good platforms for this. You might not always get a winner, but doing some research can definitely help.
If you’re just browsing but want to find out which highly-rated cars to stay away from, here’s what automotive experts suggested.
Tesla
You might not expect Tesla to be on this list, but it seems that there are some reasons why you might want to skip out on buying this vehicle.
“I tend to recommend staying away from Teslas. There have been many issues with Tesla vehicles in the past few years…But, even beyond that, I think one of the biggest issues with Teslas that would frustrate prospective buyers is the difficulty of receiving repairs,” said Ben Michael, director of auto, Michael & Associates.
“Tesla vehicles have a lot of unique parts — parts that local auto body shops often don’t have on hand. A lot of Tesla owners are finding themselves waiting weeks or even months for parts to be shipped to them, and to say that’s an inconvenience is an understatement.”
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2023 Fiat 500X
While the Fiat 500X is a decent vehicle with solid performance, it’s not for everyone.
Blake Shaw, an automotive expert at All About Wheels, said that it has frequent problems with its engine, transmission and suspension. It also suffers from rapid depreciation — around 69.7% after three years — and isn’t as reliable as it could be. Plus, maintenance and repairs can be high.
According to J.D. Power, older versions — like the 2107 Fiat 500 — have an average reliability score of just 69/100. While newer models tend to be more reliable, you might be better off with a different car altogether.
Rivian R1S and R1T
If you’re in the market for a new, American-made SUV or truck, you might be considering Rivian. But Cameron Lee, an automotive engineer and CEO of ACCURL, suggested avoiding the R1S and R1T models — despite their high ratings.
“Despite Rivian’s innovative approach to electric vehicles, their R1S and R1T models have issues that make them worth avoiding,” he said. Citing Consumer Reports, he noted that both models suffer from poor reliability.
“This poor reliability means you’ll have to pay for repairs often, which takes away the advantages of having a high-tech electric vehicle,” he said. “Also, some of Rivian’s design choices may not appeal to all buyers looking for a more conventional and dependable vehicle.”
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is an all-around solid vehicle with fairly high customer ratings, but it doesn’t quite match industry leaders like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. This is primarily due to its lacking engine, though there are a few other drawbacks as well.
“The Chevrolet Cruze has been plagued with engine and transmission problems,” said Rob Dillan, the founder of EVhype. “High repair costs and low reliability scores make it a vehicle to avoid despite its initial affordability.”
J.D. Power gave the Chevy Cruze 3/5 in terms of average reliability — not the worst but certainly not the best.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of those vehicles that’s known for its off-road capabilities — not to mention its spacious interior. But while it’s got a decent rating online, some automotive experts suggest avoiding it.
“The Jeep Cherokee is a popular vehicle, but there have been many reports of reliability problems,” Shaw said.
This results in frequent upkeep and expensive repairs, particularly with the transmission and electrical systems.
According to Lee, the Grand Cherokee also has an underpowered powertrain compared to competitors, making it hard to justify the price.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder has a solid Edmunds rating, and for good reason. It’s spacious, comfortable and competitively priced.
However, owners give it just 3.5/5 stars. Many owners indicate that it has frequent power surge and HVAC issues. Dillan said that it also has issues with its transmission, which can be expensive to fix.
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery excels when it comes to off-road performance and its luxurious interior. The newest model also seems to have fixed some of the issues older ones faced — like infotainment system design issues.
That said, Dillan still advised against this vehicle due to its high maintenance costs.
“Frequent mechanical problems make it a costly choice for long-term ownership,” he said. “RepairPal estimates the average annual repair cost for the Land Rover Discovery to be around $1,200.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Highly Rated Cars To Stay Away From
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