Buying a new car is an exciting process and something most of us look forward to for years. You’ve saved, dreamed, and researched, and you know what your next dream car is going to be. But what do you do if you discover just a few months after buying your amazing new ride that it’s having some serious problems?
Knowing which cars are scoring badly on reliability this year can help you avoid landing with a lemon. Read on to discover our top list of lemon cars for 2022 and make sure you get a car you can count on.
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y is one of the biggest disappointments for 2022, especially given its $60,000 price tag. The Model Y is supposed to be Tesla’s SUV spin on the Model 3, and the car is admittedly spacious and fast. Unfortunately, it also comes with a host of problems with climate systems, electronics, and body integrity.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already flagged several problems with the Model Y. In fact, there have been five recalls covering issues ranging from seatbelts and electrical systems to visibility, collision avoidance, and suspension. The Model Y earned Consumer Report’s lowest reliability rating and got just an 18/100 on their overall rating.
Subaru Ascent
Although the Subaru Ascent is designed to be big enough to carry the whole family, trust us when we say you wouldn’t want to put your family in this car. Like the Model Y, the Ascent received an overall rating of 18/100 from Consumer Reports, along with a 1/5 reliability rating. In particular, owners have seen problems with the transmission and currently have a recall out for it.
Subaru has also issued a recall on the Ascent for driveshaft bolts that have an uncomfortable tendency to loosen themselves. It also has a PCV valve with a habit of failing and taking the engine out of commission. And there are some missing spot welds on the body that can reduce the strength of the vehicle in the case of an accident.
Ford Explorer
Although the Ford Explorer has been a household favorite for years, the 2022 model leaves something to be desired. In fact, it made it onto Consumer Report’s list of ten lemon cars this year. The 2022 Ford Explorer has problems with everything from the transmission all the way out to the exterior paint.
Consumer Report ranked the Explorer 1/5 on reliability, and it earned an overall rating of just 8/100. It has bad fuel economy, which none of us can afford with gas prices as high as they are right now. Owners also report that the transmission is clunky, the engine is loud, the electronics don’t work, and the power equipment fails.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for making high-quality vehicles – a reputation they do not live up to with the 2022 GLE. This vehicle also made Consumer Report’s naughty list, ranking the expected 1/5 and a shocking overall score of 5/100. In fact, this vehicle has the dubious honor of sitting at the very bottom of CR’s list, coming in as the least reliable vehicle overall in 2022.
In 2021, Mercedes-Benz issued two recalls for the GLE, and in 2020, they had another five. Each of these seven total recalls has been considered dangerous, meaning they could increase your risk of crashing or being injured. There are problems with the electrical systems, rear glass, engine, and brakes, making it among the worst SUVs to ever hit the market.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen has gotten some bad press in the last few years thanks to their disastrous 2016, 2017, and 2018 Jettas. Unfortunately, we’re seeing them make headlines again this year for the poor performance of the 2022 Tiguan. CR gave it an overall score of 17/100, and owners have been reporting problems with this car for the last few years.
The 2022 Tiguan has shown issues with the electrical systems in the car, as well as braking issues. Combined with some of the larger engine problems (and Volkswagen’s shady history with these issues), we’d advise you to steer clear of this SUV, too. In fact, if you’re in the market for an SUV this year, you might want to check out Consumer Report’s full list of cars to avoid, since it seems to be made up mostly of SUVs.
Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 continues our trend of SUVs landing at the bottom of the reliability ratings. The XC90 also got a 17/100 and got 1/5 on reliability; it also got ranked 3/5 for customer satisfaction. This model has also had reliability issues for the last three years, and they don’t seem to be getting any better in 2022.
The 2022 XC90 has seen problems with the drive system, climate system, and body hardware. Some of these issues can be resolved with a simple software update; however, software patches won’t resolve common transmission issues. Owners have reported that the transmission tends to shift hard and that it can be erratic in its shifting.
Find the 2022 List of Lemon Cars
Buying a new car is very exciting, and the last thing any of us wants is to wind up accidentally getting a lemon. This year, we’d advise being very careful if you’re planning to get an SUV – a lot of major models wound up on the list of least reliable vehicles. Check the reliability rating of any model you’re looking seriously at, and look for recalls from the last few model years.
If you’d like to find a full list of lemon cars, check out the rest of our site at Robison Lemon Law Group LLC. If you think your car might be a lemon, our lawyers can help. Get free help now for your PA Lemon Law, NY Lemon Law or NJ Lemon Law case and receive the compensation you deserve for your unreliable vehicle!