2015 car survey: the top five least reliable new automobiles
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Issues on infotainment systems and transmission-related problems were the top two reasons most car owners were complaining about, according to the latest Consumer Reports' Annual Reliability Survey involving 248 vehicles, says AutoGuide.
This is definitely not a good year for the Chrysler team in terms of reliability. The four vehicle models, namely Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Fiat, which scored the lowest in the least reliable department were all from the Michigan-based American car maker, says NBC Washington.
"Chrysler has traditionally had more than its fair share of trouble. And the addition of Fiat in the mix, it really hasn't helped," said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.
"If you're looking for a reliable car, it's really not best to buy a car that's in its first year of the redesign. Wait a year or two until they work out some of those bugs," Fisher advised.
Check out the 5 least reliable car models below, which scored the lowest ratings based on the Consumer Reports' survey.
5. Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon
Issues that these GM manufactured models were facing include the usual complaints on defective navigation system, a faulty option control for the two wheel/four-wheel drive system, and poor fit-and-finish, in general, the Cheatsheet also reported.
4. Nissan Pathfinder
The worst part about the new Nissan Pathfinder according to consumers is its continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). The problem involves shaking and hesitant shifting.
3. Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee owners were mostly complaining about its Infotainment system called UConnect and its push-button start. There were also issues about its nine-speed automatic transmission.
2. Ford Fiesta
Some of the problems involving this subcompact include faulty seat belts, unreliable weatherstripping, weak fuel pumps and transmission-related problems.
1. Fiat 500L
The new Fiat 500L topped the list of the worst car in terms of reliability. Some of the reported issues by owners include broken tie rods, slipping transmissions, a shoddy electrical system, and even engine failures. Incidentally, this compact car was Pope Francis' papal car when he visited the U.S.
On the one hand, Japanese auto makers were still lording it over their counterparts. With brands like Lexus (1st), Toyota (2nd), Mazda (4th) and Subaru (5th) all making it to the top five of the list, which is composed of more than a million vehicles from 28 different makers. The German manufacturer Audi is at the fourth spot. Honda, another Japanese car maker, earned the right for the eight spot.
According to the Consumer Report survey, the most reliable new car you can avail of today is the Scion xB. This is a compact car that caters to the younger segment of the market. It is offered in the U.S. market and manufactured by Toyota.
