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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang GT | 1996–2006 | 2006 | 1996 | 836 | Engine & Cooling |
| Chrysler Lebaron | 1978–2003 | 1995 | 1993 | 832 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Pontiac Aztek | 2001–2005 | 2001 | 2005 | 829 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Cadillac Catera | 1997–2003 | 1997 | 1999 | 826 | Engine & Cooling |
| Nissan 350Z | 2003–2009 | 2004 | 2008 | 815 | Suspension |
| Lexus IS | 1999–2026 | 2006 | 2015 | 815 | Body & Structure |
| Jeep Wagoneer | 1973–2025 | 2022 | 2025 | 812 | Electrical System |
| BMW 530I | 1994–2025 | 2004 | 1994 | 809 | Airbags |
| GEO Metro | 1989–2001 | 1995 | 2000 | 805 | Airbags |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 2020–2025 | 2021 | 2025 | 803 | Electrical System |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1976–2002 | 1995 | 2001 | 802 | Brakes |
| Land Rover Freelander | 2000–2005 | 2002 | 2005 | 798 | Engine & Cooling |
| GEO Prizm | 1990–2002 | 1994 | 1998 | 795 | Airbags |
| Eagle Talon | 1990–1999 | 1995 | 1996 | 791 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| KIA Seltos | 2021–2026 | 2021 | 2025 | 791 | Engine & Cooling |
| Jeep Laredo | 1986–2006 | 2002 | 2006 | 790 | Brakes |
| Cadillac Escalade ESV | 2003–2026 | 2007 | 2026 | 789 | Engine & Cooling |
| Land Rover Discovery | 1994–2026 | 2003 | 2022 | 787 | Electrical System |
| Pontiac GTO | 1968–2006 | 2004 | 2006 | 786 | Suspension |
| Chevrolet Beretta | 1984–2002 | 1995 | 1993 | 783 | Brakes |
| Volkswagen Taos | 2022–2026 | 2022 | 2025 | 783 | Engine & Cooling |
| Volvo S70 | 1995–2002 | 1998 | 2000 | 781 | Acceleration & Cruise Control |
| GMC Sierra 3500 | 1996–2026 | 2020 | 2025 | 774 | Brakes |
| Honda GL1800 | 2001–2024 | 2008 | 2019 | 773 | Engine & Cooling |
| Acura Integra | 1986–2026 | 2023 | 1993 | 771 | Steering |
| GMC Envoy XL | 2002–2006 | 2003 | 2002 | 769 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| KIA K5 | 2021–2026 | 2022 | 2026 | 765 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Chevrolet Spark | 2013–2022 | 2013 | 2018 | 759 | Engine & Cooling |
| Unknown Unknown | 1984–2003 | 2000 | 1994 | 756 | Tires |
| Polestar Polestar 2 | 2021–2025 | 2022 | 2023 | 755 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| Mercury Tracer | 1988–2000 | 1997 | 1998 | 754 | Electrical System |
| Buick Skylark | 1981–2000 | 1997 | 1998 | 753 | Brakes |
| Ford Transit Connect | 2010–2023 | 2014 | 2021 | 746 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Infiniti Q50 | 2014–2023 | 2014 | 2016 | 743 | Steering |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011–2026 | 2017 | 2023 | 737 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Lincoln MKC | 2015–2019 | 2017 | 2018 | 736 | Engine & Cooling |
| Volvo 850 | 1993–2000 | 1996 | 1997 | 732 | Brakes |
| Acura CL | 1997–2004 | 2001 | 1998 | 731 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Cadillac DTS | 2004–2011 | 2006 | 2009 | 731 | Electrical System |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2003–2026 | 2020 | 2025 | 730 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Audi S4 | 1992–2022 | 2001 | 1993 | 722 | Electrical System |
| BMW 535I | 1986–2016 | 2011 | 2016 | 722 | Engine & Cooling |
| Infiniti G37 | 2007–2015 | 2013 | 2008 | 721 | Airbags |
| Honda Cr-V Hybrid | 2020–2026 | 2022 | 2023 | 718 | Steering |
| Isuzu Trooper | 1985–2002 | 1999 | 2002 | 713 | Engine & Cooling |
| Porsche Cayenne | 2003–2026 | 2014 | 2021 | 712 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Infiniti QX56 | 2004–2013 | 2004 | 2009 | 709 | Brakes |
| Jeep Commander 4X4 | 2007–2009 | 2007 | 2009 | 696 | Electrical System |
| BMW 750LI | 2006–2021 | 2006 | 2009 | 695 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Honda Insight | 2000–2022 | 2019 | 2002 | 685 | Airbags |
| Toyota C-Hr | 2018–2026 | 2018 | 2026 | 685 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| GMC Yukon Denali XL | 2003–2018 | 2007 | 2013 | 684 | Other & Unspecified |
| Eagle Vision | 1992–2003 | 1994 | 1996 | 681 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Volvo S40 | 2000–2011 | 2001 | 2010 | 677 | Brakes |
| BMW 323I | 1985–2011 | 2000 | 1998 | 676 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| BMW 328XI | 2006–2016 | 2008 | 2009 | 672 | Electrical System |
| Mercedes Benz C 300 | 2017–2026 | 2017 | 2021 | 671 | Engine & Cooling |
| Buick Verano | 2012–2017 | 2014 | 2017 | 670 | Electrical System |
| BMW 525I | 1989–2009 | 2004 | 1994 | 663 | Airbags |
| Saab 9-5 | 1998–2011 | 2001 | 2011 | 662 | Electrical System |