Worst years for every car
Not every model year of a car is the same car. A gearbox changes, a supplier changes, a recall lands — and one year of an otherwise fine model turns into the one to walk away from. This ranks each year against the other years of its own model, which is the only comparison the federal data can support.
The worst model years on record
Graded F, with at least 200 complaints on file.
2009 Toyota Corolla
1,770 complaints · airbags
276 crashes · 16 fires
2010 Toyota Corolla
1,582 complaints · airbags
217 crashes · 16 fires
2016 Tesla Model S
1,029 complaints · suspension
160 crashes · 23 fires
2023 Volkswagen ID.4
845 complaints · electrical system
128 crashes · 10 fires
2024 Tesla Cybertruck
260 complaints · electrical system
49 crashes · 3 fires
2015 Subaru Legacy
232 complaints · windows, mirrors & wipers
32 crashes · 5 fires
2007 Lexus ES350
529 complaints · airbags
72 crashes · 5 fires
2016 Tesla Model X
685 complaints · suspension
117 crashes · 7 fires
2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid
246 complaints · windows, mirrors & wipers
28 crashes · 0 fires
2023 Tesla Model Y
2,017 complaints · driver assist & collision avoidance
324 crashes · 6 fires
1999 KIA Sephia
749 complaints · brakes
68 crashes · 77 fires
2009 Toyota Venza
231 complaints · acceleration & cruise control
24 crashes · 5 fires
2008 Lexus ES350
276 complaints · airbags
33 crashes · 1 fires
2014 Infiniti Q50
255 complaints · steering
22 crashes · 5 fires
2005 Scion TC
203 complaints · windows, mirrors & wipers
34 crashes · 4 fires
2018 Tesla Model 3
1,710 complaints · driver assist & collision avoidance
205 crashes · 7 fires
2016 Subaru Forester
622 complaints · airbags
77 crashes · 6 fires
2007 Toyota Corolla
984 complaints · airbags
165 crashes · 10 fires
2013 Hyundai Accent
207 complaints · brakes
27 crashes · 14 fires
2009 Toyota Camry
1,616 complaints · acceleration & cruise control
204 crashes · 27 fires
2007 Ford Mustang
728 complaints · airbags
64 crashes · 9 fires
2016 Mazda CX-5
628 complaints · lights
52 crashes · 16 fires
2006 Buick Lucerne
456 complaints · electrical system
50 crashes · 3 fires
2006 Toyota Avalon
449 complaints · acceleration & cruise control
73 crashes · 3 fires
2005 Cadillac CTS
396 complaints · transmission & drivetrain
45 crashes · 6 fires
Every model with a worst year on record
1,088 models have at least three graded years, which is the minimum for a fair within-model comparison.
| Model | Run | Worst year | Best year | Complaints | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac SRX | 2004–2019 | 2012 | 2006 | 4,169 | Lights |
| Chrysler Sebring | 1995–2011 | 1996 | 2003 | 4,094 | Engine & Cooling |
| Acura TL | 1995–2014 | 2003 | 2014 | 4,055 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Dodge RAM 3500 | 1991–2012 | 2004 | 1993 | 4,042 | Steering |
| Mazda MAZDA3 | 2004–2026 | 2008 | 2020 | 4,008 | Steering |
| Chevrolet Lumina | 1987–2008 | 1995 | 2001 | 4,007 | Brakes |
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1980–2011 | 1996 | 2010 | 3,978 | Engine & Cooling |
| Jeep Commander | 2005–2010 | 2006 | 2009 | 3,930 | Electrical System |
| Mazda 626 | 1983–2003 | 1995 | 2002 | 3,877 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Ford F-350 | 1989–2014 | 1999 | 2009 | 3,845 | Engine & Cooling |
| BMW 328I | 1996–2016 | 2013 | 1998 | 3,783 | Engine & Cooling |
| GMC Jimmy | 1982–2004 | 1995 | 2001 | 3,778 | Brakes |
| Chevrolet Astro | 1984–2005 | 1995 | 2005 | 3,757 | Brakes |
| Dodge Dart | 1966–2016 | 2012 | 2013 | 3,713 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Audi A4 | 1995–2024 | 2002 | 2022 | 3,681 | Airbags |
| Cadillac Deville | 1964–2005 | 2000 | 1995 | 3,661 | Engine & Cooling |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 1965–2019 | 2000 | 2018 | 3,625 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Dodge Stratus | 1992–2007 | 1996 | 2003 | 3,617 | Engine & Cooling |
| KIA Forte | 2009–2024 | 2017 | 2024 | 3,611 | Engine & Cooling |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 2009–2026 | 2018 | 2026 | 3,543 | Engine & Cooling |
| Jeep Renegade | 2015–2023 | 2017 | 2023 | 3,496 | Engine & Cooling |
| Subaru Impreza | 1990–2026 | 2017 | 1999 | 3,460 | Airbags |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | 2001–2010 | 2002 | 2009 | 3,420 | Electrical System |
| KIA Sedona | 2002–2021 | 2002 | 2020 | 3,416 | Engine & Cooling |
| RAM 3500 | 2007–2026 | 2017 | 2007 | 3,392 | Brakes |
| Plymouth Grand Voyager | 1984–2002 | 1996 | 1999 | 3,388 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Buick Enclave | 2008–2026 | 2011 | 2021 | 3,314 | Airbags |
| Hyundai Palisade | 2020–2026 | 2020 | 2026 | 3,307 | Brakes |
| Isuzu Rodeo | 1991–2008 | 1999 | 2004 | 3,296 | Brakes |
| Mazda CX-5 | 2012–2026 | 2016 | 2026 | 3,289 | Engine & Cooling |
| GMC Envoy | 1995–2009 | 2002 | 2001 | 3,284 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Saturn VUE | 2002–2010 | 2003 | 2002 | 3,280 | Electrical System |
| Ford Freestar | 2004–2007 | 2004 | 2007 | 3,223 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Mercury Milan | 2006–2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 3,223 | Airbags |
| GMC Yukon XL | 1999–2026 | 2023 | 2012 | 3,211 | Engine & Cooling |
| Ford Aerostar | 1986–2000 | 1993 | 1999 | 3,109 | Electrical System |
| Cadillac CTS | 2003–2019 | 2005 | 2019 | 3,106 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Ford Thunderbird | 1960–2005 | 1994 | 2005 | 3,081 | Engine & Cooling |
| KIA Sephia | 1986–2003 | 1999 | 1994 | 3,080 | Brakes |
| Chevrolet Venture | 1988–2005 | 1999 | 2005 | 3,069 | Engine & Cooling |
| Volkswagen Atlas | 2018–2026 | 2018 | 2026 | 3,037 | Electrical System |
| Chrysler Concorde | 1993–2004 | 1999 | 2001 | 2,991 | Engine & Cooling |
| Chevrolet Volt | 2011–2019 | 2017 | 2015 | 2,971 | Electrical System |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 1974–2010 | 2001 | 2005 | 2,964 | Electrical System |
| Mazda MAZDA6 | 2002–2021 | 2014 | 2021 | 2,942 | Airbags |
| Oldsmobile Alero | 1998–2004 | 2000 | 2002 | 2,939 | Electrical System |
| Buick Lacrosse | 2005–2019 | 2006 | 2018 | 2,921 | Electrical System |
| Dodge Caliber | 2006–2012 | 2007 | 2011 | 2,919 | Suspension |
| Nissan Quest | 1991–2017 | 2004 | 2013 | 2,918 | Engine & Cooling |
| Saturn SL | 1991–2002 | 1995 | 2001 | 2,891 | Engine & Cooling |
| Mercedes Benz C300 | 2010–2016 | 2010 | 2012 | 2,859 | Airbags |
| Mini Cooper | 2001–2026 | 2003 | 2019 | 2,856 | Steering |
| Mazda Tribute | 2000–2011 | 2001 | 2010 | 2,831 | Engine & Cooling |
| BMW X3 | 2004–2026 | 2019 | 2010 | 2,821 | Engine & Cooling |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 1989–2012 | 2001 | 2012 | 2,785 | Brakes |
| Honda Ridgeline | 2006–2026 | 2006 | 2009 | 2,769 | Electrical System |
| Hyundai Accent | 1991–2022 | 2013 | 2021 | 2,762 | Airbags |
| Honda FIT | 2007–2020 | 2007 | 2020 | 2,748 | Airbags |
| Mercedes Benz E350 | 2003–2017 | 2014 | 2004 | 2,687 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Acura RDX | 2007–2026 | 2020 | 2012 | 2,669 | Lights |