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
1,027 complaints · suspension
160 crashes · 23 fires
2023 Volkswagen ID.4
840 complaints · electrical system
128 crashes · 10 fires
2024 Tesla Cybertruck
258 complaints · electrical system
49 crashes · 3 fires
2015 Subaru Legacy
232 complaints · windows, mirrors & wipers
32 crashes · 5 fires
2016 Tesla Model X
684 complaints · suspension
117 crashes · 7 fires
2007 Lexus ES350
529 complaints · airbags
72 crashes · 5 fires
2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid
246 complaints · windows, mirrors & wipers
28 crashes · 0 fires
2023 Tesla Model Y
1,987 complaints · driver assist & collision avoidance
323 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
1,693 complaints · driver assist & collision avoidance
204 crashes · 7 fires
2016 Subaru Forester
617 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
1,087 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Cougar | 1962–2002 | 1999 | 1997 | 2,646 | Engine & Cooling |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 1996–2010 | 1997 | 2010 | 2,646 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| KIA Telluride | 2020–2027 | 2020 | 2027 | 2,598 | Other & Unspecified |
| Pontiac Bonneville | 1977–2005 | 1998 | 2004 | 2,580 | Engine & Cooling |
| Lincoln Continental | 1975–2020 | 1994 | 2001 | 2,566 | Engine & Cooling |
| Nissan Armada | 2004–2026 | 2006 | 2026 | 2,540 | Brakes |
| Ford Flex | 2009–2019 | 2009 | 2017 | 2,511 | Electrical System |
| Chevrolet Avalanche | 2000–2013 | 2002 | 2006 | 2,473 | Airbags |
| Ford Ecosport | 2018–2022 | 2018 | 2022 | 2,449 | Engine & Cooling |
| Honda Hr-V | 2016–2027 | 2019 | 2026 | 2,438 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| Mitsubishi Galant | 1986–2012 | 1999 | 1998 | 2,429 | Brakes |
| Tesla Model X | 2016–2026 | 2016 | 2024 | 2,399 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| Buick Century | 1981–2005 | 1999 | 2005 | 2,393 | Engine & Cooling |
| Dodge Challenger | 1970–2023 | 2014 | 2023 | 2,382 | Electrical System |
| GMC Suburban | 1974–2004 | 1994 | 2000 | 2,323 | Brakes |
| Cadillac Escalade | 1999–2026 | 2007 | 2026 | 2,305 | Engine & Cooling |
| Honda Passport | 1981–2026 | 2021 | 2025 | 2,290 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| GMC Sierra 2500 | 1994–2026 | 2001 | 1998 | 2,284 | Brakes |
| Ford Escape Hybrid | 2005–2025 | 2020 | 2010 | 2,267 | Brakes |
| Volvo XC90 | 2003–2025 | 2016 | 2010 | 2,252 | Electrical System |
| Oldsmobile Cutlass | 1976–1999 | 1993 | 1999 | 2,251 | Brakes |
| Saturn Aura | 2000–2010 | 2007 | 2009 | 2,227 | Steering |
| Audi A6 | 1994–2026 | 2001 | 2025 | 2,209 | Electrical System |
| Mercury Villager | 1992–2002 | 1993 | 2002 | 2,205 | Engine & Cooling |
| Mini Cooper S | 2002–2025 | 2003 | 2012 | 2,181 | Steering |
| Ford Bronco | 1967–2026 | 2022 | 1993 | 2,163 | Electrical System |
| Pontiac Vibe | 2000–2014 | 2009 | 2008 | 2,133 | Airbags |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 2022–2026 | 2023 | 2026 | 2,124 | Electrical System |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | 2006–2026 | 2025 | 2010 | 2,046 | Brakes |
| Lincoln MKZ | 2007–2020 | 2017 | 2018 | 2,025 | Airbags |
| Plymouth Neon | 1994–2001 | 1995 | 1999 | 2,016 | Engine & Cooling |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1985–2023 | 2015 | 2021 | 2,009 | Engine & Cooling |
| Ford Bronco Sport | 2021–2026 | 2021 | 2024 | 1,977 | Electrical System |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1985–2024 | 2002 | 1999 | 1,949 | Engine & Cooling |
| GMC Canyon | 2004–2026 | 2015 | 2025 | 1,948 | Steering |
| Saturn Outlook | 2007–2010 | 2008 | 2010 | 1,939 | Lights |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 2004–2012 | 2007 | 2011 | 1,930 | Engine & Cooling |
| Saturn LS | 2000–2004 | 2001 | 2000 | 1,885 | Engine & Cooling |
| Buick Park Avenue | 1984–2005 | 1998 | 2005 | 1,880 | Engine & Cooling |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2003–2026 | 2022 | 2006 | 1,874 | Engine & Cooling |
| Infiniti G35 | 2002–2009 | 2003 | 2007 | 1,862 | Electrical System |
| Audi Q5 | 2009–2026 | 2018 | 2024 | 1,860 | Engine & Cooling |
| Mazda CX-9 | 2007–2023 | 2012 | 2020 | 1,827 | Brakes |
| KIA RIO | 2000–2023 | 2002 | 2023 | 1,816 | Engine & Cooling |
| Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X4 | 2007–2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 1,812 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| BMW 325I | 1987–2012 | 2006 | 1993 | 1,808 | Airbags |
| Buick Rendezvous | 2001–2007 | 2002 | 2007 | 1,798 | Electrical System |
| Lincoln Navigator | 1998–2025 | 2003 | 2012 | 1,794 | Electrical System |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 2021–2025 | 2023 | 2025 | 1,779 | Electrical System |
| Hyundai Veloster | 2012–2021 | 2012 | 2021 | 1,768 | Engine & Cooling |
| Chrysler 300C | 2005–2017 | 2005 | 2014 | 1,763 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Lincoln MKX | 2007–2018 | 2007 | 2009 | 1,759 | Airbags |
| Chevrolet Suburban 1500 | 1994–2026 | 2007 | 2026 | 1,753 | Brakes |
| GMC Sonoma | 1984–2005 | 1995 | 2002 | 1,739 | Brakes |
| Hyundai Genesis | 2008–2018 | 2015 | 2010 | 1,725 | Brakes |
| Mercury Mariner | 2005–2011 | 2008 | 2007 | 1,722 | Steering |
| Saab 9-3 | 1994–2011 | 2003 | 2010 | 1,689 | Airbags |
| Volvo S60 | 2000–2024 | 2012 | 2021 | 1,678 | Engine & Cooling |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1985–2005 | 1996 | 2005 | 1,641 | Electrical System |
| Dodge Nitro | 2005–2012 | 2007 | 2009 | 1,635 | Electrical System |