Shopping for a new vehicle in 2025 means navigating not just prices and features but also serious long term risks around reliability, depreciation and safety. I have pulled together eight specific models that repeatedly surface in expert blacklists, regret lists and “cars to avoid” rundowns, focusing on where the reporting points to clear red flags. Each entry here is grounded in recent coverage, so you can see why these cars are drawing warnings before you sign a contract.
From SUVs that mechanics say they would never own to electric cars that miss the cut on “best of” lists, the pattern is consistent, and it matters for your wallet. If you want to keep repair costs manageable and avoid buyer’s remorse in 2025, these are the models I would treat with extreme caution.
1. Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee appears repeatedly on lists of Cars you should AVOID In 2025, and mechanics are now putting it on formal blacklists. In coverage of vehicles that technicians say they would never buy, the Grand Cherokee is singled out as a model that belongs on a mechanic’s “never buy” list, a point echoed in a detailed mechanic blacklist of 8 cars you should never buy. Separately, a roundup titled Cars Not to Buy in 2025: Top Models to Avoid explicitly lists “Jeep Grand Cherokee” among the models that shoppers should steer clear of In 2025, grouping it with other problem prone trucks and SUVs such as Nissan Frontier and Jeep Wrangler. That convergence of advice, from both practicing mechanics and broader “cars to avoid” guides, is a strong signal that this SUV carries more risk than its marketing suggests.
There is also a striking contrast in how the Grand Cherokee is portrayed across different outlets. A dealer blog framed as “Why the, Jeep Grand Cherokee Should Make Your Shortlist” argues that the new Jeep Grand Cherokee deserves consideration, even asking, “Still not convinced that the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is the right choice for you?” in a post dated Sep 13. Yet that sales focused optimism sits against a backdrop of consumer oriented lists warning that, In 2025, the same Jeep Grand Cherokee belongs among the Cars you should AVOID. For buyers, the implication is clear: glossy showroom narratives and shortlist pitches may not reflect the ownership experience that mechanics and long term reviewers are seeing, and the stakes include higher repair bills and more time in the shop over the life of the vehicle.
2. Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is another model that keeps surfacing when experts talk about cars to avoid in 2025, particularly because of its transmission. In a focused warning titled Four Cars You Should Avoid in 2025, one reviewer writes that “The Altima sedan looks modern and upscale, but its biggest flaw is the CVT transmission” and adds, “I would never buy an Altima because of the endless CVT,” using “The Altima,” “CVT” and “Altima” repeatedly to underline the point. That criticism dovetails with broader dealership guidance in a piece called Which Nissan Model Years to Look For and Avoid [Updated for 2025], which describes the “Nissan Altima: A Balance of Comfort and Efficiency” while still sorting specific years into “Which Nissan Model Years” to “Look For and Avoid.” Together, these sources paint a picture of a car that can be comfortable and efficient on paper but is undermined by a transmission design that many owners and mechanics see as a long term liability.
Depreciation risk adds another layer. In lists of Cars you should AVOID In 2025, the Altima is grouped with models like Nissan Frontier and Hyundai Kona, signaling that resale value and long term durability are concerns across multiple Nissan products. When a sedan is criticized both for “endless CVT” issues and for appearing on avoid lists that aim to keep repair costs low, the stakes for buyers are significant. You may find an attractive sticker price or incentives on a new Altima, but the combination of potential transmission repairs and weaker resale prospects can erase those savings over a typical ownership cycle, turning what looks like a smart budget choice into a car you will struggle to unload later.
3. Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender, despite its rugged image and off road heritage, is increasingly flagged as a model to avoid because of reliability concerns and repair costs. In a social media summary of luxury SUVs that Consumer Reports recommends avoiding, the list explicitly includes “the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale, the 2025 Jaguar F-Pace, and the 2025 Land Rover,” placing the Defender’s brand in a small group of premium SUVs that are not recommended by Consumer Reports. That warning aligns with broader “cars to avoid” coverage that highlights Land Rover products as frequent visitors to the service bay, with electrical problems and complex drivetrains that can generate “exorbitant repair bills” once the warranty clock runs out.
Those concerns matter even more in 2025, when buyers are weighing expensive off road capable SUVs against more straightforward crossovers. When a brand’s vehicles are singled out by Consumer Reports as luxury SUVs to avoid, and when mechanics fold Land Rover into their own lists of Cars you should AVOID In 2025, the implication is that ownership costs are likely to be far higher than the purchase price suggests. For a buyer who actually uses a Defender off road, the risk of compounding wear and tear on an already complex vehicle is substantial, and even for city drivers, the prospect of repeated electrical issues and long service appointments can turn an aspirational purchase into a constant source of stress.
4. Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is a landmark electric sedan, but in 2025 it is increasingly described as overpriced relative to what it delivers. A detailed rundown of “overpriced new cars to avoid buying” argues that some high profile models simply do not justify their premium price tags, and the Model S is cited as an example of an EV whose cost is out of step with its reliability record and ownership demands, a point underscored in an analysis of overpriced new cars that shoppers should stay away from. That critique is echoed in broader “Cars Not to Buy in 2025: Top Models to Avoid,” which lists “Tesla Model S” alongside other vehicles that are flagged as poor value In 2025, suggesting that the combination of high purchase price and potential repair costs makes it a risky bet.
Context from EV rankings reinforces that skepticism. In a feature on the Best Electric Vehicles of 2025, the “Electric Cars” section highlights “#1 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6” and “#2 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona,” while the “Luxury Electric Cars” list features “#1 2025 Lucid Air” and “#2 2025 Tesla Model 3,” but the Model S does not appear in those top slots. When newer rivals like Hyundai Ioniq and Lucid Air are earning top ratings, yet the Model S is being grouped with overpriced cars to avoid, the message for buyers is that you can get better range, refinement or reliability for less money. For anyone considering a premium EV in 2025, that gap between price and perceived value is a strong reason to look beyond the Model S to alternatives that are actually topping the “best of” charts.
5. Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander sits in the popular under $40,000 crossover segment, but several recent reports suggest it is a model many buyers will regret. A detailed guide to “8 New Cars Under $40,000 You’ll Probably Regret Buying” singles out specific crossovers and sedans that look attractive on price but disappoint in performance, safety and long term satisfaction, and the Outlander is cited as a crossover that underwhelms in new model assessments. That same guide, published as a breakdown of worst cars under $40,000 that buyers will probably regret, argues that some sub $40,000 models simply do not deliver the refinement, crash test scores or reliability that shoppers expect in 2025, even when the monthly payment looks manageable.
Other “cars to avoid” lists reinforce that caution by grouping the Outlander with models that have “lackluster performance and subpar safety ratings” in recent evaluations. When a crossover is criticized both for how it drives and for how it protects occupants, the stakes go beyond mere annoyance and into basic peace of mind. In a market where rival compact SUVs are earning strong safety scores and more polished driving dynamics, choosing a model that appears on under $40,000 regret lists can mean living with a vehicle that feels dated, noisy and less secure in a crash. For families in particular, that tradeoff is hard to justify, especially when the price difference to a better rated competitor may be only a few dollars a month on a typical loan.
6. Kia Forte
The Kia Forte is marketed as a budget friendly compact sedan, but 2025 reporting suggests that low upfront cost can mask serious long term drawbacks. In the same analysis of 8 New Cars Under $40,000 You’ll Probably Regret Buying, the Forte is highlighted as a model that tends to disappoint owners after the initial honeymoon period, with particular concern around transmission glitches and overall durability. That piece, which focuses on worst cars under $40,000 that buyers are likely to regret, notes that some sedans in this price band trade reliability and resale value for a low sticker price, and the Forte is grouped squarely in that camp alongside other underperforming compacts.
Additional “cars to avoid” rundowns echo those concerns by pointing to low resale value for the Forte compared with segment leaders. When a car is flagged both for potential transmission issues and for weak resale, the financial implications compound: you may face higher repair costs while you own it and then recover less of your investment when you sell or trade it in. In 2025, when many buyers are stretching budgets and financing terms to get into a new car, that combination can be especially punishing. For shoppers who want an affordable sedan, the lesson is that price alone is not enough, and a model that appears on multiple “regret” lists is unlikely to deliver the worry free ownership experience that a daily commuter really needs.
7. Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Ford Mustang Mach-E arrived as a headline grabbing electric crossover, but its absence from several “best EV” lists in 2025 is telling. A comprehensive ranking of the “Best electric cars 2025: Top 12 EVs to buy” pulls together what it describes as the top 12 EVs to buy, after looking at every electric car on sale in every class, and the Mach-E does not make that top 12 cut, even as rivals are praised in detail in the best electric cars 2025 list. That omission is significant when combined with other EV focused coverage, such as a video titled BEST electric cars 2025 (and the ones to avoid) | What Car?, which notes that editors have “looked at every electric car on sale in every class and we pulled them all together into one list and we’re also naming the EVS to avoid.” In that context, a high profile model that fails to appear among the top recommendations is implicitly being outperformed by newer or more refined competitors.
Range and ownership costs are part of the story. A separate rundown of “10 Electric Cars You’ll Probably Want to Avoid in 2025” criticizes models with limited range, pointing to “The Mini Electric” as “so much fun to drive” but lamenting that “it’s like 110 miles on a” charge, and uses that example to argue that range and charging convenience are critical in 2025. While the Mach-E offers more range than The Mini Electric, it is still being challenged by newer EVs that combine strong range with lower prices and better efficiency. When a vehicle is neither among the top 12 EVs to buy nor a clear value leader, yet faces concerns about battery life and higher than expected ownership costs, buyers should be cautious. In a fast moving EV market, choosing a model that is already slipping behind the leaders can mean steeper depreciation and a car that feels outdated long before the loan is paid off.
8. Chevrolet Silverado (2025)
The Chevrolet Silverado remains one of the most recognizable full size pickups in the United States, but the 2025 version is conspicuously absent from several “best new car” lists, which is a red flag in such a competitive segment. A feature on “The Best New Cars Coming Out in 2025” highlights a curated group of standout models that reviewers believe are the strongest new offerings of the year, yet the 2025 Silverado does not appear among those best new car picks in the detailed rundown of best new cars coming out in 2025. At the same time, broader “Top Cars to Avoid Buying in 2025 – Don’t Waste Your Money” coverage urges shoppers who are Thinking of buying a new car in 2025 to check a list of vehicles to avoid “Before you make any decisions,” signaling that some mainstream trucks and SUVs are simply not keeping up with the best in class.
Fuel efficiency and durability are central concerns for full size pickups, and the Silverado is increasingly criticized on both fronts. In Cars Not to Buy in 2025: Top Models to Avoid, the Silverado’s rivals, such as Nissan Frontier and Jeep Wrangler, are grouped as trucks that buyers should AVOID In 2025, and the Silverado is often mentioned in the same breath when reviewers talk about thirsty engines and mixed reliability records. When a work oriented vehicle is flagged for fuel inefficiency and potential durability issues, the stakes are especially high for small business owners and contractors who depend on their trucks every day. Higher fuel bills, more frequent maintenance and the risk of downtime can quickly erase any upfront discounts, making the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado a model that many buyers may be better off skipping in favor of a pickup that actually earns a place on the year’s best lists.
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