Complaint databases turn thousands of owner reports into a rough map of which used cars have caused the most grief. This gallery draws on CarComplaints listings for Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler and Nissan, noting each worst-year label and the problem that goes with it. Twelve cars appear below, each with the caveat that totals follow sales volume.
Tech news worth reading: Get Techpresso, the daily email with the most interesting tech news and insights, read by 400,000+ professionals from Google, Apple and OpenAI.
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
1. 2002 Ford Explorer: Complaint Magnet
CarComplaints’ Ford overview names the 2002 Explorer as the worst model year and model the brand has produced. The site counts 13,452 complaints across the whole Explorer line, a tally that spans every model year and tracks sales volume as well as defects.
Because the count covers all years of a long-running, high-volume SUV, the total says less than the dedicated worst-year label does. Shoppers eyeing an early-2000s Explorer should treat that label as the signal worth weighing, then inspect any candidate closely before paying.
2. 2014 Ford Escape: Listed Among the Worst
CarComplaints’ Ford page lists the 2014 Escape among the worst models Ford has built. The compact crossover line carries 4,924 complaints in the site’s database, a figure that combines every model year rather than isolating 2014 alone.
That makes the number a rough gauge of volume as much as trouble, since popular vehicles collect more reports. Even so, a worst-model listing is a reasonable reason for used-car shoppers to request service records and check for open recalls on a 2014 example.
3. 2014 Ford Focus: Hesitation From a Stop
CarComplaints’ Ford listing places the 2014 Focus on its worst-model list, with ‘Bad Hesitation/Jerking When Starting From A Stop’ as the top Ford problem noted there. The Focus line has 5,279 complaints across all years of the car.
Hesitation from a standstill is the sort of fault a short test drive can reveal, so buyers have a practical way to check. Pulling away from a stop-sign several times, in traffic and on a gentle hill, would show whether the behavior appears.
4. 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Surges and Jerks
CarComplaints’ Chevrolet overview counts the 2017 Silverado 1500 among the worst models, naming ‘Surges And Jerks’ as the leading problem. The Silverado 1500 line has 1,285 complaints in the database, covering all of its model years.
A pickup that lurches under steady throttle is more than an annoyance, particularly when towing or merging. Anyone considering a 2017 truck would do well to drive it at varied speeds and ask whether the transmission has been serviced or updated.
5. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: A Frequent Mention
CarComplaints’ Chevrolet page names the 2011 Cruze as a worst model for the brand. The compact sedan line has 1,176 complaints on record, a count that reflects the car’s entire sales run and not only its first model year.
No single failure is attached to the listing in the package, so the label works best as a prompt for homework. A prospective buyer can pair it with a vehicle history report and a pre-purchase inspection to find out how that particular car was treated.
6. 2011 Chevrolet Equinox: Volume and Complaints
CarComplaints’ Chevrolet overview lists the 2011 Equinox as a worst model, and the crossover line has 2,843 complaints, the most of the three Chevrolet entries here. The count covers all years of the Equinox rather than just 2011.
Sales volume inflates totals for a bestseller like this one, so raw numbers deserve caution. The worst-model tag still marks 2011 as a year that drew notable owner dissatisfaction, which justifies a closer look at maintenance records before any purchase.
7. 2002 Chrysler Sebring: Sludge Under the Cap
CarComplaints’ Chrysler overview ranks ‘Oil Sludge Resulting In Engine Failure’ as the number one problem for the 2002 Sebring. The Sebring has 1,549 complaints across all years, and the same sludge issue also shows up for 2001.
Sludge forms when oil breaks down and clogs passages, a risk that grows with skipped changes. Anyone shopping an older Sebring would want proof of regular oil service, since a neglected engine can fail without much warning and cost more than the car is worth.
8. 2015 Chrysler 200: Stalling While Driving
CarComplaints’ Chrysler listing gives the 2015 Chrysler 200 a top problem of ‘Engine Stalls/Shuts Off While Driving’. The 200 has 1,273 complaints in the database, a total that spans every year the sedan was sold.
A car that cuts out in motion can lose power assistance at the worst moment, which makes this a safety question as well as a reliability one. Checking for open recalls by VIN is a sensible first step with any 2015 example.
9. 2011 Chrysler Town & Country: Minivan on the List
CarComplaints’ Chrysler page names the 2011 Town & Country a worst model, and the minivan has 2,044 complaints across its history. No single dominant fault is cited in the package for that year.
Family haulers rack up heavy mileage, which can push complaint counts higher over time. With no specific failure pinned to 2011, shoppers are left with a general warning, best answered by a thorough inspection of the sliding doors, transmission behavior and service history.
10. 2013 Nissan Altima: Shuddering CVT
CarComplaints’ Nissan overview flags 2013 and 2014 as the Altima’s worst years, with the 2013 problem described as ‘CVT Shuttering, Vibration, Hesitation, Running Roughly’. The Altima has 5,370 complaints overall, a figure covering the whole model line.
Continuously variable transmissions depend on fluid changes and careful engineering, and owners describe the symptoms as noticeable during ordinary driving. A test drive that includes light acceleration and steady cruising can help reveal whether a 2013 car shows the behavior.
11. 2005 Nissan Pathfinder: Coolant in the Gearbox
CarComplaints’ Nissan page calls 2005 the worst overall model year for Nissan, and the Pathfinder’s listed problem is ‘Coolant Leaked Into Transmission’. The Pathfinder line has 2,190 complaints across all years.
Coolant mixing with transmission fluid is a classic sign of a failed internal cooler, and it can destroy a gearbox quickly. Buyers of a 2005 Pathfinder would benefit from checking fluid condition and asking whether the cooler has already been replaced.
12. 2015 Nissan Rogue: The Rogue’s Weakest Year
CarComplaints’ Nissan overview identifies 2015 as the worst year for the Rogue. The compact crossover has 1,391 complaints overall, covering every model year, and the package names no single failure for 2015.
That leaves the listing as a flag rather than a diagnosis. A shopper weighing a 2015 Rogue can look for CVT service history, since the Nissan entries above point to transmission trouble, and compare asking prices against comparable crossovers from other years.
Tech news worth reading: Get Techpresso →
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
More from Morning Overview
- Doctors warn a silent liver disease now affects one in three American adults
- The FBI told the rest of ShinyHunters to surrender after a 24-year-old was arrested
- Two passengers died at an Ohio toll plaza, and the NTSB now wants the cash lanes shut
- Long use of a common prostate pill is tied to a higher chance of glaucoma
