Your car’s infotainment system simply won’t boot. That creak from the left front portion of the suspension is worrying…and it’s getting louder. The shift from second to third gear is so rough it could seemingly deploy the airbag. The engine simply won’t turn over. These car issues are troublesome enough in cars that have seen their fair share of miles, but when they impact a relatively new car, it’s enough to make you want to push it off a cliff to save yourself money and further inconvenience.

If you want to avoid such a situation, it’s best to buy a model that has a proven track record of reliability. So, avoid the following models ranked by Consumer Reports as the least reliable cars. These models gave their owners the most fits for their inability to hold up over time, plagued them with problems and repairs, and made them completely regret their decision. Survey results include reported problems for over a dozen troublesome areas, from noisy brakes to major repairs that were needed outside of manufacturer warranties. In short, unless you like spending tons of dough on repairs and spending time with your ride in the shop, these are the cars to avoid.

RELATED: 10 Most Potentially Unreliable SUVs According To Consumer Reports

10 Jeep Wrangler

Jeep-Wrangler_Rubicon_392-2021-1600-01 2
Jeep
Front 3/4 view of blue Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 parked. 

When your Wrangler is at the shop, again, for repairs, it could be considered a “Jeep thing.” The Wrangler may have a cult-like following that is happy to overlook its subpar reliability, but those joining to drink the Wrangler Kool-Aid take heed. The Wrangler earns a reliability rating of just 25 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. And according to CR, its dependability has only continued to suffer for over a decade. For Wranglers from the 2012 to 2022 model year, eight have shown worse reliability than the average new car.

CR’s list of comparable models, which also includes the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco, shows the Wrangler at the bottom of the pack among off-road-ready SUVs. The Bronco had a reliability rating of 47 while the 4Runner led the chart with a “nice” score of 69. The most troublesome spots for the Wrangler are its electrical system, fuel system, climate system, and engine.

9 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Blue 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S
Mercedes-Benz
An action shot of a 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S on a coast road

Mercedes-Benz may be synonymous with German quality, but the automaker that wants to uphold that reputation makes an unfortunate mark on Consumer Report’s list of 10 least reliable cars. The GLE was given a reliability ranking of just 23 points out of 100 and a predicted reliability score of just two out of five. Most of the GLE’s trouble spots are electric gremlins.

Among midsize SUVs, the GLE was ranked second-to-last in CR’s report (another entry comes later in this list). Those wanting the most reliable model in the GLE’s class, according to CR, should consider the Lexus GX or Lexus RX. The GX tops the chart with a reliability of 91 out of 100 for the last three model years with the RX in second with a score of 75.

8 Jeep Gladiator

Jeep Gladiator Sandrunner
Stellantis
Shot of a Jeep Gladiator Sandrunner in the desert

Another Jeep makes CR’s list of unreliable cars, and this time it’s the Wrangler’s pickup cousin, the Gladiator. The Gladiator scored a reliability rating of 21 points, making it the worst-scoring midsize pickup behind the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, and Nissan Frontier.

The most troublesome spots for the Gladiator are its steering/suspension, drivetrain, electrical system, and noises/leaks.

With two models on this list, it’s no surprise Jeep was one of CR’s most unreliable car brands of 2023. Only the Cherokee scored better than a 2/5 rating for predicted reliability for all of the automaker’s 2023 models.

RELATED: 15 Most Unreliable Pickup Trucks

7 Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500

Nicolas Sena
2023 Chevrolet Silverado Crew LT Trail Boss Front 3/4 Right

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 may come with different features, and appointments and cater to slightly different clientele, but when it comes to reliability, Consumer Reports doesn’t differentiate the two half-ton pickups. Both models scored a reliability rating of just 19 points with their engines, electrical systems, drive system, and brakes reported as the most troublesome areas. So, buyers can expect some major repairs if things go wrong.

It should be noted that no full-size or heavy-duty truck ranks well in CR’s reliability scores. The Ram 1500 leads the pack, and it scores just 43 out of 100 points. And though the Silverado and Sierra score low, they aren’t the least reliable trucks you can buy today.

6 Chevrolet Bolt

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV beach
Chevrolet 
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV parked on a beach 

It was recently announced the Chevrolet Bolt would be going to a great scrapyard in the sky with GM opting to discontinue the model. Though the Bolt was the cheapest EV on the market, it has been plagued with problems that likely played into Chevy’s decision to kill the model and its slightly larger brother, the Bolt EUV. The Bolt has experienced a litany of recalls since it was introduced, including a potential battery fire risk. As such, it’s no surprise the Bolt earns a reliability rating of just 17/100 with its top problem areas listed as its electrical system, battery pack, and electric drive system.

Those in the market for a small all-electric car with a focus on reliability might want to consider the Nissan Leaf instead, though there are huge sacrifices to be made for the driving range, performance, and other key aspects. As low as the Bolt scores, it’s not the only small EV on this list.

5 Ford Explorer

Action shot of a blue 2020 Ford Explorer ST driving
Ford
A front three-quarters action shot of a blue 2020 Ford Explorer ST driving on a canyon road.

The Ford Explorer is almost directly responsible for SUVs going mainstream with the model debuting when the more senior President Bush was still in the White House. The long-running nameplate is hardly immune from reliability issues, however, with the Blue Oval’s midsize, three-row SUV earning a reliability score of just 16/100.

The Explorer’s transmission, power equipment, hardware, steering/suspension, in-car electronics, and noises/leaks were reported by owners as its most problem-prone areas. As such, the 2023 Explorer is given a predicted reliability rating far below that of some rivals like the Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-9, and Honda Pilot, which all top the list of the Ford’s main competition. Hopefully, Ford is able to address these issues with the upcoming 2024 model.

RELATED: The Most Unreliable Cars According To Consumer Reports

4 Nissan Sentra

2023 Nissan Sentra 1
Nissan 
Front three-quarter view of the 2023 Nissan Sentra

The Nissan Sentra is among the most affordable new cars you can buy in 2023 with a base MSRP of just $20,050. Though Sentra owners will certainly save some coin at the dealer, they are likely to pay far more for repairs than buyers of more expensive compact sedans.

The Sentra was given a reliability score of just nine points. CR noted its most problematic areas are its brakes, climate system, paint and trim, and noises/leaks. Among its closest competitors, the Mini Cooper, Toyota Corolla, and Honda Civic topped the charts for best-predicted reliability. All of those models cost more upfront, but again, they might save owners on repair costs.

3 Lincoln Aviator

Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring
Lincoln
Front three-quarters shot of a Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring

The Lincoln Aviator is a black eye on Lincoln’s dependability ratings for 2023. Lincoln is ranked as the most reliable American automaker for 2023, but a big blemish in its lineup, at least for reliability, comes from the midsized Aviator. It is given a reliability score of just eight points, making it the lowest-scoring luxury model on CR’s list of least dependable cars.

The Aviator trouble spots are a long list. They include its in-car electronics, climate system, steering/suspension, power equipment, body hardware, drive system, paint, and trim, and noises/leaks. Lincoln was the most improved automaker in CR’s 2023 reliability survey, but if the brand truly wants to shine, it needs to address the Aviator’s issues.

2 Hyundai Kona Electric

Hyundai Kona Electric side shot
Hyundai 
Side shot of a 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

The EV segment is rapidly expanding, and as more models hit the road, we’ll get a better picture of which all-electric automakers are delivering the most reliable models. Until then, the Hyundai Kona Electric stands as the least reliable EV model, according to Consumer Reports. The electrified Kona received a reliability score of just five points out of 100. Since its debut in 2019, the Kona Electric has delivered worse reported reliability than the average new car.

The Kona Electric’s main trouble areas are its electrical system, battery pack and charging issues, electric drive system, climate system, and in-car electronics. Despite a long list of recalls for the Chevy Bolt, the 2023 Kona Electric earns an even lower reliability ranking.

RELATED: 10 Most Potentially Unreliable Electric Vehicles According To Consumer Reports

1 Ford F-150 Hybrid

Gray Ford F-150 Hybrid
Ford
A front 3/4 action shot of a Ford F-150 hybrid driving on a country road

There are seemingly endless ways to tailor a Ford F-150 with various cabs, trims, bed sizes, optional extras, and, of course, powertrains to select from. And those looking for reliability over efficiency should certainly avoid the F-150 Hybrid, the least reliable car today according to Consumer Reports. The publication gives the F-150 Hybrid a reliability rating of just 4 out of 100 points. This certainly gives the Ram or GM faithful ammunition to continue the claim that Ford stands for “Fix Or Repair Daily.”

CR lists the F-150 Hybrid’s most troublesome spots as its electrical system, power equipment, drive system, engine, and noises/leaks. It should be noted the F-150 Hybrid has just made its debut for 2023 with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 and a single electric motor cranking out 400 horsepower. But at least for now, Blue Oval buyers who put a premium on reliability should consider one of the various ICE F-150s available, or perhaps make the jump to all-electric with the F-150 Lightning.