Special Report
These New Cars Are Most Likely to Break Down
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There are many important matters to consider when buying a new car, and something that often gets overlooked is a car’s reliability — or how long it will last before repairs are needed. Some cars are built to last, while others have problems that could mean the car will spend considerable time in the shop and cost thousands in repairs.
To help car buyers identify potentially troublesome cars, product review organization Consumer Reports conducted its latest annual reliability survey. This survey of owners’ experience with approximately 329,000 vehicles was used to determine how likely each model is to have serious problems. Respondents were asked to report issues they experienced with their vehicles in one of 17 areas, ranging from engine problems to climate control issues to malfunctioning electrical systems. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed cars for the 2021 model year with a predicted reliability score of 1 out of 5, meaning Consumer Reports has determined these are the new models most likely to report serious problems down the road.
The models on this list include both luxury models and lower-end vehicles. Expensive luxury models can be costly to fix and to insure, particularly if the encountered problems are common. These are the most expensive cars to insure.
While many different automakers and brands appear on this list, some appear more than others. Notably, Land Rover and Chevrolet have at least five models each with a predicted reliability score of just 1 out of 5. These are America’s best brands for new cars.
Click here to see which new cars are most likely to break down.
Click here to see our methodology.
20. 2021 Volkswagen Jetta
> Consumer Reports overall score: 50/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $18,995
> Combined fuel efficiency: 34 MPG
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19. 2021 Volvo S90
> Consumer Reports overall score: 50/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $51,550
> Combined fuel efficiency: 23 MPG
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18. 2021 Dodge Durango
> Consumer Reports overall score: 49/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $31,765
> Combined fuel efficiency: 18 MPG
17. 2021 Land Rover Range Rover
> Consumer Reports overall score: 49/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $92,000
> Combined fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
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16. 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
> Consumer Reports overall score: 49/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $56,900
> Combined fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
15. 2021 Ford Escape
> Consumer Reports overall score: 46/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $24,885
> Combined fuel efficiency: 26 MPG
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14. 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS
> Consumer Reports overall score: 46/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $76,000
> Combined fuel efficiency: 30 MPG
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13. 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
> Consumer Reports overall score: 45/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $41,450
> Combined fuel efficiency: 24 MPG
12. 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
> Consumer Reports overall score: 45/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 2/5
> MSRP: $22,140
> Combined fuel efficiency: 29 MPG
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11. 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
> Consumer Reports overall score: 45/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $28,900
> Combined fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
10. 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
> Consumer Reports overall score: 45/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $30,000
> Combined fuel efficiency: 17 MPG
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9. 2021 Kia Forte
> Consumer Reports overall score: 43/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $17,890
> Combined fuel efficiency: 34 MPG
8. 2021 Lexus LS
> Consumer Reports overall score: 43/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 2/5
> MSRP: $76,000
> Combined fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
7. 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE
> Consumer Reports overall score: 43/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $54,750
> Combined fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
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6. 2021 Ford Explorer
> Consumer Reports overall score: 42/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $32,225
> Combined fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
5. 2021 Maserati Ghibli
> Consumer Reports overall score: 42/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 2/5
> MSRP: $72,190
> Combined fuel efficiency: 19 MPG
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4. 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport
> Consumer Reports overall score: 41/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 1/5
> MSRP: $41,900
> Combined fuel efficiency: 21 MPG
3. 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
> Consumer Reports overall score: 41/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 3/5
> MSRP: $43,300
> Combined fuel efficiency: 20 MPG
2. 2021 Jeep Renegade
> Consumer Reports overall score: 37/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 1/5
> MSRP: $22,850
> Combined fuel efficiency: 24 MPG
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1. 2021 Fiat 500X
> Consumer Reports overall score: 31/100
> Consumer Reports predicted reliability: 1/5
> Consumer Reports predicted owner satisfaction: 1/5
> MSRP: $24,840
> Combined fuel efficiency: 23 MPG
Methodology
To determine the cars that are most likely to break down, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed all 2021 model vehicles from Consumer Reports with a reliability score of 1 out of 5. Consumer Reports also awards an overall model score out of 100, which incorporates reliability and other measures of quality. We excluded all models that were not awarded an overall score by Consumer Reports as well as models with an overall score of 50 or higher. Finally, Consumer Reports produces a predicted owner satisfaction score, all models receiving a score of 4 or higher were excluded. MSRP ranges and combined fuel efficiency figures are also from Consumer Reports.
These data come from Consumer Reports’ latest Auto Reports survey, conducted in 2020 and covering approximately 329,000 vehicles. Respondents were asked to report issues they experienced with their vehicles in one of 17 areas, ranging from engine problems to climate control issues to malfunctioning electrical systems. Using this information, experts at Consumer Reports assigned a predicted reliability score of 1 to 5 for these vehicles.
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