10 Popular Used Cars You Should Avoid
Buying a used car is a risk since most don't come with a warranty. If something goes wrong or breaks, it's now an out-of-pocket expense for you.
To help give consumers better peace of mind, Consumer Reports recently put together a list of 10 popular models that have shown to be at risk for potential problems.
On the list are cars such as the 2003-2006 Ford Focus for problems with the alternator, ignition and battery, and the 2003-2004 Honda Accord V6 for potential issues with transmission failure.
Consumer Reports does point out the list is not set in stone - some cars may not have these problems at all. And there were models in their research that had even higher problem ratings. So the bottom line is to always do reliability research before purchasing a used car.
| Vehicle | Problems |
|---|---|
| 2007-2010 BMW 335i | Fuel pump, fuel injection |
| 2003-2006 Chevrolet Silverado | 4WD system |
| 2003-2006 Dodge Grand Caravan | Power steering, tie rod, water pump |
| 2003-2007 Ford F-150 V8 | Brakes, 4WD system |
| 2003-2006 Ford Focus | Alternator, ignition, battery |
| 2005-2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee | Slipping transmission, locks, windows |
| 2003-2004 Honda Accord V6 | Transmission failure |
| 2003-2005 Nissan Altima | Catalytic converter, O2 sensor, stalling engine |
| 2003-2007 Subaru Forester | Head gasket failure |
| 2007-2009 Toyota Camry | Water pump |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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