The Worst Car I Ever Owned: 9 People Share Which Vehicles Aren’t Worth Your Money

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The average price of a used car in the United States is now $27,297. If you’re spending that much money — or even close to it — you want a vehicle that will last in return. But some people aren’t so lucky.

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Here are nine nightmare vehicle stories from Reddit that you should read before buying your next car:

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2023 BMW BRZ

BMWs are a frequent source of frustration for car owners on Reddit. Just ask user “Hurr1canE_.”

They bought a 2023 BMW BRZ and almost immediately started experiencing problems. Their turbo started blowing white smoke within two weeks of buying the car, and the engine blew up within 5,000 miles.

The Reddit user also had these issues with the car:

• Air valve
• Computer software and control module
• Transmission

Other users mention poor experiences with BMW X3s and 540i Sport Wagons. It’s enough to suggest you think carefully before making one of these your next vehicle.

2006 Jeep Liberty

Next, user “GilpinMTBQ” and others have had horrible experiences with Jeep Liberties. User SourTaco says their mother used to have one of these cars and had to replace the engine twice. “Current_Department73” says they loved their Jeep Liberty but could never get the steering rack to stop leaking.

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But the worst experience with one of these cars belongs to “GilpinMTBQG”. Here are some of the issues he suffered through:

• The front right wheel fell off
• The head gasket blew twice in a single year
• The fueling system going out
• Broken window switches
• Broken A/C system
• Oil leaks
• All-over rattling

2007 Mini Cooper S

Next up, a now-deleted Reddit account talks about the terrible time they had owning a 2007 Mini Cooper S.

They say it was a “constant headache” with headlights and tail lights that just fell off the car randomly within weeks of one another. The car also had issues with its gauges and sudden engine failures. The user says the car was great to drive, but the issue their Mini Cooper had, ultimately, led them to get rid of it.

2011 F10 550i

Reddit user “elgoato” had a terrible time with their 2011 F10 550i. Their truck’s fuel system malfunctioned multiple times, and they had to replace everything to repair the problem. Even worse, when “elgoato” tried to sell their car to the dealer, they were hardly offered anything due to well-known issues with the vehicle.

2011 VW GTI

“Import1107” had an awful experience with their 2011 Volkswagen GTI. They bought it with 27,000 miles on it and within three years had experienced each of these issues:

• Blown injector
• Water and fuel pump problems
• Bearing issues forced them to install a new aftermarket clutch system
• Starter problems
• Intake manifold
• Broken valve spring

The user says they spent around $7,500 in three years just to keep the car running. That’s close to enough to buy a car that works.

2009 PT Cruiser

Next, “selshan” talks about their experience owning a 2009 PT Cruiser. They say they “hated the PT for every single minute that I owned that thing.”

But unlike many other cars on this list, “selshan” doesn’t say they had any mechanical issues with the vehicle. They just absolutely hated how it drove. More specifically, the car accelerated so slowly that they ultimately decided to trade it in for another car as soon as they could afford it.

2006 Mazda 3

The worst car “obviouslybait” has ever owned is a 2006 Mazda 3. They say the engine was really solid, and had no problems with it. But that’s where the good news ends.

The Reddit user experienced constant problems with their suspension, underbody, body panels and e-brake line. Other users have chimed in that these problems likely came from salt on the road, which can corrode a vehicle’s undercarriage.

That means the Mazda 3 may be an OK car if you live in a region without snow. But if emergency crews frequently salt roads in your area, you could be in for a very bad time with this car.

2016 Subaru WRX

Several Reddit users have talked about experiencing problems while owning a Subaru WRX. User “likebigbuttons” says their 2016 WRX has always had problems since they purchased it — but never exactly the same thing. Issues they’ve experienced include:

• Huge shakes in the motor with wildly fluctuating RPM variations
• Headlights randomly not working
• Interior fans randomly not working
• Really loud unexpected sounds from the air filter

2010 Dodge Charger Police Interceptor

Finally, Reddit user “AdAstra314” says they had a terrible experience with their 2010 Dodge Charger Police Interceptor edition. They got a “random cylinder misfire” code about two weeks after buying the car. Plus, they had problems with TPS sensors, windows and even the vehicle’s transmission.

How To Not Buy a Terrible Car

If buying a new car is on your to-do list this year, these stories may be scary. But there are some steps you can take to reduce the chances of something similar happening to you.

One good idea is to look at car ratings from Consumer Reports. These independent scores tell you how reliable vehicles are after extensive testing. They’ll help you avoid cars that seem to always have problems.

There’s also something to be said for purchasing an older model that’s gone through more extensive testing. Some issues may not appear until later in a car’s life. If you buy a brand new 2024 vehicle, it could have major problems lurking that have yet to be discovered.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Worst Car I Ever Owned: 9 People Share Which Vehicles Aren’t Worth Your Money