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.