What is the most unreliable vehicle you have experienced?

Anything with a bow tie on the grill.

 

We had the Firenza in South Africa as well

They built a 302 V8 one called the Can-Am for racing

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/th...-am-is-a-tiny-v8-muscle-car-with-a-z28-heart/

 

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee... biggest piece of crap I ever had...

My 2005 Dodge Magnum has 212k miles and has been more reliable than my old 09 Tacoma... strange for sure.

 

My 18 Colorado WT was the best American vehicle I’ve owned. I went almost 15 years since I drove an American made vehicle prior.

Now I have A K5. It’s reliable but still a money hole non the less.

 

My wife's Nissan Xterra, that she bought new here in NH, was so rusted out in 6 years it couldn't pass inspection and had to be scrapped. The body looked pristine, and you would have never thought there was a rust problem...until you took a peak underneath. She bought it with her ex-husband who loved Nissans and had a Nissan pickup...that also rusted to the point of scrap in 8 years.

 

Least Reliable -
2004 Nissan Titan(ic) Bought back by the dealer after spending 24 days at the dealership in the first 40 days.
2008 FJ Cruiser. Sold at just under 100K and it was due for its 4th Throwout bearing replacement. Also a long list of other issues that almost soured me for good on the toyota brand.

Most Reliable-
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax). Other than routine maintenance, I only ever had to pay for a coolant level sensor in 10 years and 150K miles of almost exclusive towing duties.
2005 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon. 165K miles (and going) and other than a set of O2 sensors and a A/C compressor, nothing more than routine maintenance.
2015 Tacoma - So far, so good. 67K miles and going.

 

I've never really had any vehicles that were unreliable. I always leaned toward the older cars, so they always needed work or were not in the best condition. My worst car though was a 1983 Nissan Sentra. I picked it up real cheap. Stripped the interior and removed the big ugly rubber bumpers. It was actually a fun car to drive, but then the carburetor went bad. It had an electronically controlled carburetor. Now 83 was a transition year. I could not find a replacement carb that worked with my car. It either didn't have the right flange connection or the electrical connection was wrong. It would work occasionally then die on me all of a sudden. It was very sporadic and there never seemed to be any consistency to the problem. I sold it to a junk yard for about half of what I paid. This is not my car, but almost identical:

 

Years ago, my then girlfriend's father had a Chevy Citation. Problems up the wazoo, and if you hit a slight hill on the highway, it took full pedal to the metal to go 50 mph. It's a good thing the speed limit at the time was 55 mph, so it was only a little slower than the limit, but I think I saw a scooter swooping by once...

 

By far my friend's RIB boat. Too much engine trouble. Last time we went out it died trying to get out of the harbor. So we suited up and swam it back. He keeps "fixing" it and it keeps dying on him out on the water.

 

Wow! Now that would have been an absolute rocket!

 

It looks fearsome going down the road, sounds nice though, not too bad for a car from 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln6lkXVW4tU

 

Volkswagens, my parents had a 70&71 bug & square back. Odd things I recall like the spare air pressure used to power the windshield squirter. Then my father cursing trying to get the toilet paper roll into the holder for the oil filter. What we 4 kids called the back back of the bug, all of us fitting in the space to hold 2 shopping bags.

 

bought new: 2009 Smart Fortwo. bought used: 1980 AMC Spirit.

 

When I was young (in the '60s), my parents had a '58 beetle. With 4 kids. Only car. My spot was the cubby under the back window. Christmas at my grandparents was a 3 hour drive away. My older sister and I usually ended up taking the bus home. Good memories, terrible cars. lol

 

Ah, the toilet paper roll oil filter, that brings back memories.

 

My Serveta (Spanish built Lambretta) Jet 200 had the WORST electrical not-even-a-system wiring mess.

Once I deleted the original 6-pole magneto and 90% of the harness and ran an older 4-pole set up, lights were weak but it would start first kick.

 

Early '80's Dodge Ram D50 4x4 5 spd. (Mitsubishi) Mini pick-up. True POS. I can't remember the number of times the trans/transfer case was out of the truck. It was so light weight I could pick it up with a hand on the bell and the other on there output and carry it.

 

I love my 2010 Tacoma, but with only 115k miles (I’m the original owner) I’ve had to:
- replace the stock Sport rims which were badly flaking almost from new (Toyota paint warranty did not cover rims)
- replace steering rack and lines (leaking rack and rusted lines)
- replace intermediate steering shaft (badly rusted)
- replace stock radio (two stock units failed and replaced under warranty before I replaced with a nice Kenwood unit)
- repair exhaust gasket leak (no big deal, but...)
- replace cabin fan resister

Not to mention multiple trips back to the dealer for TSB’s for:
- cutting down my gas pedal
- ECU reprogrammed (per the “unintentional acceleration” situation)
- replace rear leaf springs (requested and received “Canadian” four leaf pack)
- CRC truck frame (which I have to admit feels like a bit of a time bomb as the new coating is so thick you can no longer see the frame to inspect it)

The truck is pretty much stock and it is exactly what I need for my homeowner / hobby needs, but I’m concerned with keeping it too much longer given the frame coverage ends for me next year.

Previous Jeep’s worked well for over 200k miles and my wife’s Pilot was a strong runner for 185k before we replaced it with another.

 

I would say my 1999 Ford Ranger is unreliable in the sense that it has issues however those issues simply weren't dealt with from the previous owners. I think my heater core was the biggest issue that happened suddenly, everything else was things previous people neglected or common issues like the idler pulley.

 

If it wasn't for the current beater Jeep of 8 yrs, my tools collection would be bare. From wacky electrical gremlins to suspension vibes, I'm finally able to enjoy driving it this past year without issues. I leave long distance family trips to the Tacoma. Here's a failing radiator that lasted 6 mos after replacement. Jeeps are fun to drive but costly to own.