TGR Staff - 03/21/2022
Finally sitting behind the wheel of a shiny new vehicle that’s so fresh out of the showroom it still has that new car smell is perhaps one of the biggest joys for any car lover. Unfortunately, even major brand vehicles can have big issues and face recalls.
Far from being a minor inconvenience, these setbacks cause significant safety concerns on the road and could see you having to invest in used parts or junkyard rims just a few weeks or months after parting with some of the largest upfront sums you’ll ever face. This can come as a significant blow, and to help you to avoid it and ensure that you’re only investing in the most reliable vehicle options in the future, we’re going to consider some of the newest car releases with the worst existing track records when it comes to everything from breakdown to performance more generally.
# 1 - Volkswagen Jetta
The 2015 emissions scandal is still very much tarnishing Volkswagen’s name, meaning that you would expect their latest releases to at least tick all the boxes for getting consumers on their side once and for all. Unfortunately, last year’s Volkswagen Jetta hasn’t quite managed to live up to that promise, with consumer reports overall providing a score of just one out of five for key factors like reliability. Admittedly, an overall consumer reports score of 50 out of 100 does provide some promise, but it’s offset by a quick bit of research that reveals a range of notable issues with these VW vehicles, including Jetta radio and front assist problems, ignition coil failure that leads to engine cutouts, and even defective timing chains. These are just a few of the reasons why even seventh-generation Jettas continually appear on lists of ‘new cars most likely to break down’, with transmissions, in particular, reported as problem areas in these models.
# 2 - Volvo S90
Volvo's S90 might spell a stylish return to the executive saloon class according to reviews, but similar consumer ratings to the Jetta suggest that all is not as good as it could be here. Common problems that are most often responsible for recalls and faults here especially include software errors in the engine control module (ECM), unreliable fuel pump fuses, and even missing hydraulic units in the brake system. Admittedly, these issues do seem less widely spread than the problems with the other vehicles mentioned in this article, but the reality is that the S90’s score of 1 out of 5 for reliability still points to the fact that it’s not performing as its $51,550 price tag suggests that it should.
# 3 - Ford Escape
The Ford Escape has long found itself at the forefront of the SUV market, but with 2021s latest Escape release earning just 46 out of 100 in overall consumer ratings, question marks inevitably appear here, too. Worse, perhaps, even than other models mentioned, the Escape, which has long been touted as a great option for family fun, has some serious defects to its name, including defective engines, malfunctioning fuel systems, and bad powertrains to name just a few. Worse, these issues can be seen across every iteration of the Ford Escape, with the 2021 launch, in particular, plagued with engine problems that Ford has already faced class-action lawsuits about from their 2013-2019 Escape engines. Recalls that have already happened due to fires created by faulty fuel systems even highlight that Ford isn’t doing anything to deny these issues or, as the case seems from the outside, to necessarily fix them.
# 4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
The Evoque might be an iconic SUV, and no one can deny that its sleek finish is one of the most stylish SUV designs out there right now, but the 2021 iteration of this Land Rover favorite has also fallen foul to its share of problems. In fact, powertrain issues, recurring electronic faults, and break corrosion that significantly compromises the Evoque’s endurance efforts have all come together to provide an overall consumer satisfaction score of just 41 out of 100. That’s the lowest rating of all the vehicles on this list and raises serious questions about whether a vehicle that costs $43,300 on average is worth the hassle and increasingly short lifespans that Evoques seem to be bringing to the market right now.
You deserve the best new vehicle possible. Make sure that these models aren’t forcing you to compromise on that!
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