Brand-new cars come with the expectation that they will be reliable and hassle-free, and aside from regular maintenance, they will not need to be taken to the repair shop. Usually, the new car experience is supposed to be seamless, effortless, and worry-free, or at least that’s how it’s supposed to be. When you buy or lease a new car, a significant financial investment, you don’t expect your new car to turn into a repair nightmare.
According to Consumer Reports, “CR’s exclusive Auto Survey tells us that some buyers will be taking their brand-new car back to the dealer’s service department sooner and more often than other car buyers will.”
CR Studies 17 Trouble Areas
The Consumer Reports’ survey dug deep into a number of things that could go wrong with a vehicle. It studied a total of 17 trouble areas from minor nuisances, such as broken interior trip to major issues, such as transmission problems that occur out-of-warranty and four-wheel-drive systems troubles. Based on Consumer Reports’ analysis, the following vehicle models were problematic enough to land on its 2019 list of least reliable vehicles.
“They [the least reliable vehicles of 2019] are presented in rank order, counting down to the least reliable model, the Jaguar F-Pace,” according to Consumer Reports.
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Volkswagen Atlas: Concerns over climate system, power equipment, and steering/suspension.
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Cadillac CTS: Concerns over transmission, drive system, and climate system.
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Alfa Romeo Giulia: Concerns over in-car electronics, the engine, and power equipment.
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Kia Cadenza: Concerns over the climate system, engine cooling, and fuel/emissions system.
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Cadillac Escalade: Concerns over the transmission, climate system, and in-car electronics.
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Cadillac CT6: Concerns over the transmission, climate system, and in-car electronics.
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Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD: Concerns over the drive system, steering/suspension, and fuel/emissions system.
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Tesla Model X: Concerns over noises and leaks, body hardware, paint and trim, and in-car electronics.
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Buick Enclave: Concerns over noises and leaks, the transmission, and power equipment.
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Jaguar F-Pace: Concerns over noises and leaks, the drive system, in-car electronics, and the power equipment.
Unfortunately, when consumers buy or lease a brand-new vehicle, they often have a false sense of security about the safety and reliability of their new vehicles. The truth of the matter is that even brand-new cars can be manufactured with significant defects that can place the consumer at risk of serious bodily harm and financial losses. When such a new vehicle does not respond to a reasonable number of repair attempts, the consumer may be entitled to a replacement or refund under California’s lemon law.
Do you believe that you may have purchased or leased a lemon, even if
it was brand-new? If so,
contact Norman Taylor & Associates to request a free consultation.