Top 10 Least Reliable New Cars: The 2013 Edition

If you’re shopping for a new car and reliability is at the top of your list of priorities, you might want to avoid the following vehicles found on this top 10 list.

Based on Consumer Reports‘ reliability studies and surveys, these are the top 10 least reliable new cars on the market right now with the rankings based on survey results covering 17 potential trouble spots.

Kicking off the list is the Ford Taurus 3.5-liter EcoBoost model. The American automaker’s sedan is good for 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque from the 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6. That specific model (SHO) starts at $40,695 while getting 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The SHO model comes with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle activation with 19-inch wheels as standard.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review on the Ford Taurus here.

The Hyundai Genesis coupe is the Korean automaker’s sports car entry onto the market, and has been a respectable car on the market with a starting price of $25,145. Coming standard on the Genesis coupe is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 274 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque while power hungry enthusiasts can opt for a 3.8-liter V6 with 348 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder nets a 21-mpg city/30-mpg rating with the six-speed manual transmission, while the eight-speed automatic gets 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review on the Hyundai Genesis coupe here.

The Ford Explorer lands in eighth place on the top 10 list of least reliable new cars, despite being one of the most popular SUVs on the market. Reliability issues however are only being reported with the V6 AWD model which starts at $32,495. The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine comes with 290 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque while getting its owners 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway in AWD form.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review on the Ford Explorer here.

Surprised to see the Cadillac XTS sedan on the list? The American automaker’s luxury sedan has received plenty of attention from the media thanks to its stylish redesign and modern performance. In standard form, the XTS comes equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 305 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque, but the XTS can also be had with a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 with a fun-filled 410 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy for the standard V6 engine is 17 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The Cadillac XTS starts from $45,525.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review on the Cadillac XTS here.

One of the world’s most iconic cars, it might be a surprise to some to see the Volkswagen Beetle on the top 10 list of least reliable new cars. Priced from $20,815 the VW Beetle comes powered by a 2.5-liter, inline-five engine with 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Despite landing on the list of least reliable new cars, the Beetle will still remain a strong seller on the market based on its iconic style and design. Its 22-mpg city, 31-mpg highway rating doesn’t hurt either.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review on the Volkswagen Beetle here.

For the 2013 model year, Nissan gave its Pathfinder model a major overhaul and since its release, the SUV’s problems have been well documented by its owners on the Internet. Priced from $29,710, the Pathfinder comes standard with the Japanese automaker’s 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s good for 260 hp. It also gets a respectable (for an SUV) 20-mpg city, 26-mpg highway rating. The seven-seater offers a best-in-class 5,000 lbs standard towing capacity.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review of the Nissan Pathfinder here.

Earlier this year, the Ford C-Max Hybrid saw its advertised fuel economy revised from 47 mpg to 43 mpg, prompting the American automaker to issue out compensation checks to owners. Priced from $25,995, the C-Max Hybrid’s powertrain is good for a combined system output of 188 hp while now achieving 45 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. Transmission wise, the C-Max Hybrid uses an electronic continuously variable (e-CVT) unit and comfortably seats five.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review of the Ford C-Max Hybrid here.

The MINI Cooper Countryman, priced from $22,895, lands on the top 10 list of least reliable new cars. The Cooper Countryman comes with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. While it may not be the most reliable of new cars on the market today, the MINI Cooper Countryman does have an attractive price tag and gets 35 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. It also comes with a four year, 50,000-mile warranty and three year, 36,000-mile no-cost maintenance that helps add some peace of mind.

You can read AutoGuide’s review of the Cooper Countryman here.

The Ford Escape powered by the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine has its fair share of reliability issues according to Consumer Reports. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is available on the SE trim which has a starting price of $26,445. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost is good for 178 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque while offering 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway in front-wheel drive form. All-wheel drive owners will see 22-mpg city, 30-mpg highway.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review of the Ford Escape here.

Topping the list is the Ford C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid, priced from $33,745. The C-Max Energi features a 2.0-liter, hybrid electric powertrain that gives it an EPA-estimated 108 city/92 highway MPGe. It features a combined system output of 195 hp and has an all-electric range of 21 miles and can hit 85 mph in pure electric mode. Charging the C-Max Energi takes approximately 2.5 hours using a 240-volt charger.

You can read AutoGuide‘s review of the Ford C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid here.