The Worst American Cars You Should Avoid Buying In 2024

In an article posted earlier this year titled “Best American Cars, SUVs, and Trucks,” based on a Consumer Reports study, the point was made that Consumer Reports did not imply that the vehicles listed are actually entirely “Made in America”; but rather, was a focus on what many of consider “Traditional” U.S. brands.

According to Consumer Reports, “Naming the American cars with the best Overall Scores first requires defining what we mean by “American.” This is complicated because some U.S. brands, like Buick and Ford, build many of their vehicles in other countries. Similarly, some foreign brands, such as Honda, Subaru, and Toyota, produce many American-market vehicles here in the U.S.”

In other words, we’ve accepted the fact that the “Made in America” moniker can be ambiguous when it comes to the traditional automotive brands we love and support and can still recall some of those catchy pro-America TV car commercials back when we were kids.

Such as this one:

Baseball, Hotdog’s, ApplePie and Chevrolet

God, I Miss the '70s!

Another Americanism We’ve Accepted

However, there is another cultural Americanism we appear to have become comfortable with as well―the acceptance that those same makes come with the expectation that all models are not as up to par as we would like, with some makes and models faring worse than others requiring enough trips to the dealership service department to become on a first name basis with the service manager.

Que sera, sera, and all that.

The good news is that we do not have to just hope we got a “good-un” off the assembly line these days. The internet provides car shoppers with enough timely forewarning whenever a model is showing consistent problems bad enough to rank right up there with a distant cousin wanting to friend you on Facebook.

Related article: The Truth on Why Some Cars Are Reliable and Others Are Not

One example is the useful Car Help Corner YouTube channel that alerts car shoppers to what to expect with the latest makes and models to help you with your car shopping research before stepping into a car dealership.

Here’s the latest from the host of the channel who recently posted his advice about the worst American cars you should avoid buying in 2024.

In case you do not have time for the video, a summary of his vehicles to avoid is provided for you below the video.

Worst American Cars You Should Avoid Buying In 2024

Video Summary of the Worst “American” Cars

1. Ford Escape and Ford Bronco Sport: Tiny 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine with turbo is asking a lot of an underpowered engine to support the models’ size.
2. Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator: Mechanically identical vehicles, both have more than their share of problems that include turbo failure, transmission failure, fracturing intake valves, and coolant leaks. The Ford F-150 with PowerBoost generator also proved to be one of the least reliable F-150’s on the market.
3. Chevrolet Blazer EV: A new launch in 2023, GM had to stop selling them in response to mounting reliability problems such as electronic failure, charging issues, and software glitches.
4. Buick Encore and Chevy Trailblazer: Overpriced for a 3-cylinder turbocharged vehicle, you are better off spending less money on better vehicles.
5. Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra: Both possess new cylinder deactivation tech in their V-8 engines that suffer from multiple recurring issues such as lifter problems before serious miles are logged on, often resulting in engine loss. Transmission problems are common as well in these models.
6. Tesla Model X: The biggest “dud” in the Tesla line says the host listing it as over-priced and the least reliable of all of the models. Its resale value will result in a significant loss for the owner as the Model 3 and Model Y are much more preferred by shoppers.
7. Almost All Stellantis Models: Too many of the models are consistently overpriced, underwhelming, and money-draining duds such as the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Hornet R/T, and the RAM truck―known for being the most expensive to maintain and repair of all mainstream truck brands. Plus, no bad vehicle review would be complete without mentioning the troubled and way-overpriced Jeep. Expect to pay $80,000 to $120,000 for their top models that are not the top on reliability and are expected to depreciate significantly the first year of ownership.

For additional reports on smart shopping for your next new or used car or truck, here are three selected articles to help you find the right vehicle to fit your needs:

• Consumer Reports Popular Midsized SUVs to Avoid and What to Buy Instead
• Best Electric Car Recommendations From Consumer Reports
• 10 Cheap Cars Consumer Reports Recommends

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: New Car Warning That Affects Everyone Buying a New Car Today

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