This Brand Makes The Worst Cars, According To Consumer Reports

To say that a particular brand or company makes the worst cars is a bold statement. After all, labeling a vehicle the best or worst can be highly subjective. For example, some buyers may be willing to trade less-than-stellar long-term reliability for the performance or image of a European luxury brand. Others may be happy to trade performance and excitement for the peace of mind that comes with reliability.

However, when it comes to objectively ranking current car brands from best to worst using the same criteria, Consumer Reports is hard to beat. CR uses a variety of testing metrics and survey results to compile regularly updated lists of the industry’s best and worst brands. The latest version includes 31 different brands, ranking Jeep as the worst version.

This is a bit disconcerting given that Jeep is one of America’s most famous car brands, with a legion of loyal fans and owners. But it’s also not surprising, as Jeep has been subject to a number of well-publicized recalls and safety issues of late. The results also make it clear that just because a car looks great or exciting in the showroom, it doesn’t mean buying it is necessarily a wise choice in terms of long-term ownership satisfaction.

Read more: 8 Enthusiast Cars That Are Ridiculously Overrated

From huge repair costs to fire risks

Consumer Reports came up with its rankings of the best and worst brands by considering several different factors, including reliability and owner satisfaction surveys, preliminary road test reviews and safety ratings. In Jeep’s defense, some of CR’s perceived negatives (such as poor fuel economy) may already be known and considered by buyers, and may be considered trade-offs for Jeep’s famed off-road capabilities. Even harder to defend, however, is Jeep’s position at the bottom of CR’s owner satisfaction rankings, with only about half of current Jeep owners saying they would buy one again.

Consumer Reports rankings aside, the relatively poor quality and questionable reliability of Jeep products is no big secret. The brand has been plagued by high-profile recalls recently, particularly of its 4xe hybrid model. In the last year alone, the Jeep 4xe has been subject to some massive recalls, including the risk of a complete engine failure or, even worse, a defective 4xe battery that could cause a fire. This is a big deal because it’s not just a mechanical failure, but a safety risk to both the vehicle and the house or garage it’s parked in. Additionally, a casual survey of mechanics revealed that Jeep is one of the most trouble-prone brands, with other Stellantis-owned brands like Dodge and Chrysler joining their list of “pay rent” brands.

It’s a Jeep thing

Even from a high-level perspective, Jeep’s reliability and quality issues are sad. Because Jeep isn’t just another car brand trying to get a piece of the pie. Jeep is one of the most famous brands in the American automotive industry and is closely associated with the American spirit of adventure. Increasingly, however, that adventurous spirit has as much to do with recalls and repairs as it does with tackling backcountry trails and exploring remote wilderness.

That’s not to say you should avoid buying or leasing a new Jeep entirely, but the rough record of reliability and the likelihood that your vehicle will spend a lot of time at the dealership are definitely things to consider. When buying a used Jeep, Consumer Reports ratings become more of a red flag warning. Because it’s one thing to have a vehicle that’s prone to problems while it’s still under factory warranty, it’s another thing to have a vehicle that’s out of warranty and puts you at significant financial risk if repairs are needed.

It should be said, though, that Jeep’s poor reputation for reliability is nothing new, and it hasn’t stopped many die-hard Jeep fans and other happy owners from enjoying their vehicles. If, on the other hand, you don’t want to take any chances and want to know about Consumer Reports’ top reliability picks, you’ll not be surprised to find that some of the most long-time favorite Japanese brands rank high in the latest rankings.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.