Why? It can be anything from high maintenance costs and reliability problems to a car simply not living up to its name. Here is a useful list of cars, trucks, and SUVs that people got rid of before their first year.
Dodge Dakota
In 2006, Dodge decided to take its Ram Dakota models and completely redesign them from scratch. The new trims were a lot sportier and featured a 210 horsepower V6 engine with upgrades for up to a 4.7 liter V8 with 302 horsepower. The redesigned Dakota seemed very promising, but Dodge later found out that making this model was a big mistake.
The Dakota trucks often broke down in the middle of driving, which made them incredibly unreliable. Since the most important trait of a pickup truck is reliability, many owners were returning the Dakota within the first year after buying it.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The Mercedes G-Class is one of the best SUVs ever made, rivaling Land Rover and other competitors for off-road features. The G-Class is known for its massive 416 horsepower, its twin-turbo V8 engine, and its luxurious appearance, but its hefty price tag of $124,000 might be a bit much for some people.
Apart from a high price tag, the fact that the tank guzzles fuel adds to an already high maintenance cost. This is probably what led 8 percent of buyers to return the massive G-Class Benz after just a year of purchasing.
Porsche
Another luxury automaker that has suffered a high return rate due to insanely high maintenance costs is Porsche. With nearly 8 percent of owners returning their Porsche within a year of having bought it, the company has certainly suffered losses.
The problem is that, when purchasing a Porsche, people often forget that the $40,000 they paid for the car is just the beginning of a long list of expenses. Maintaining a car like a Porsche requires money and time, and all the while, the car is dropping in value with every passing year.
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra has great reviews, which is no wonder considering that Toyota has one of the strongest reputations in the auto market.
Still, this light-duty pickup truck is returned by 4 percent of owners within the first year, which isn't bad compared to other competitors.
Nissan Versa
The extremely affordable and reliable Nissan Versa is a great automobile. The only issue is it is missing many features that other similar competitors offer, even for their most basic cars. The simple-looking car isn't exactly exuding excitement, which is probably why a lot of its owners return it within the first year of purchasing it.
Automakers need to remember that while being basic is a good thing, it's important to not be too basic and strip the ride of any fun or thrill.
Chevrolet Avalanche
Pickup truck enthusiasts and consumers were extremely excited when Chevrolet finally revealed its newest pickup truck — the Avalanche. Unfortunately, the hype far exceeded the actual car, and the truck suffered from horrible speedometer issues, transmission failures, and quickly guzzling up oil.
Many people started to get rid of the car within the first year, and the Avalanche name became tarnished, making it better for the company to just let go of the truck instead of trying to fix it.
Hummer
While Hummers work extremely well when it comes to military use, when it comes to public consumers, this vehicle is an absolute disaster. The 2009 Hummer was extremely expensive, very hard to drive, drank gas like it was water, was immensely difficult to park, and very uncomfortable to sit in.
There's a good reason why Hummer stopped producing these for consumers in 2010, and you have the evidence why right here. Apart from the obvious fact that owners started getting rid of them just a few months after having bought the car.
Chevrolet Camaro
Categorized as both a pony car or a muscle car, depending on the model, the Chevrolet Camaro is a mid-size American automobile that came out in 1966. The Camaro came out as a competition to the Ford Mustang and used many parts of the Pontiac Firebird.
However, despite it being a fast and reliable sports car, not to mention very stylish, many owners find themselves returning this car within the first year of use. It's also important to note that sports cars significantly drop their value within the first year.
Jeep Wagoneer
Although we consider Jeep to be one of the most successful and popular SUV and pickup truck makers in the world, its 4x4 Jeep Wagoneer was loaded with problems, despite being specifically built for serious off-road action.
The IFS Wagoneer of the early '60s faced the worst issues, mostly around the truck's engine and suspension. This caused it to become a lot less popular than other trucks in Jeep's lineup. People started returning the Wagoneer within the first year, and the company had to come up with a newer, better model.
Mazda CX-3
Even though Mazda is one of the world's leading automakers, its CX-3 model has been returned by 7 percent of buyers within the first year. Even though the Cx-3 is a less expensive, more family-friendly SUV, it still doesn't make the cut for male buyers.
Firstly, this car will run you upwards of $20,000, a number that will increase as you start doing upgrades. Its 148 horsepower engine isn't enough to give the CX-3 an average review by auto critics, prompting owners to trade or sell the vehicle soon after purchase.
Jaguar
Shockingly, 6.5 percent of owners return their Jaguars within the first year. The luxurious Jaguar may be a work of art when it comes to automobile craftsmanship and power, but the maintenance costs are simply too high.
However, if you ever have the chance to drive one of these, don't miss out. Driving a Jaguar is one of the most thrilling things you'll ever do.
Suzuki Equator
When Suzuki wanted to try and find their way into the American pickup truck market, they simply decided to copy an existing model from another car maker and slap a Suzuki logo on it. Namely, the Nissan Frontier.
Obviously, this move didn't go well, as savvy consumers quickly picked up on the scheme and avoided purchasing the Suzuki Equator. The cars were being returned or sold within less than a year after being purchased.
Nissan Titan XD
A heavy-duty version of the Titan pickup truck is Nissan's Titan XD. As you probably guessed, XD means it can be pimped up with a powerful Cummins diesel engine and a Pro 4X off-road package.
Even though this hefty truck is certainly very powerful and has extremely comfortable 'Zero Gravity seats, it still falls short against competitors when it comes to payload rating and towing capacity. The Titan XD has lagged behind in what is already a very competitive truck market, leading 8 percent of owners to sell the car within the first year.
GMC Sierra 1500
The GMC Sierra 1500 looks like a heavy-duty pickup truck, but it's still received negative reviews due to a number of issues. Among them, the fact that the ride is too rough, the cabin looks old-fashioned, and there's not enough space for the driver or passengers.
It's no surprise then that nearly 5 percent of buyers return the GMC Sierra within the first year of use.
Buick Enclave
The 2019 Buick Enclave is a car that didn't move up too much with the times since it's basically a copy of the 2018 model with some slight updates. Consumer Reports decided to name this one as another victim of their “least reliable” category.
Luckily for the Enclave, the 2018 model, which it's based on, did have many benefits, from a quiet and comfortable interior that fits up to seven passengers up to massive cargo space and some really cool tech features. However, as far as 2019 was concerned, bad reliability was enough to get this model returned by several buyers within the first year.
Toyota Tacoma
Another Toyota pickup truck that is returned by 5 percent of owners within the first year is the Tacoma model. A light-duty pickup truck, the Tacoma just doesn't give drivers the experience they're looking for in a high-performing truck.
To increase sales and thwart return rates, Toyota is planning to release a new Tacoma model in 2020. We'll have to wait and see if it's as good as they claim.
Jaguar XF
Jaguars are one of those cars that are so stunning they could be bought simply to be admired, as many collectors do. Their cars are one-of-a-kind, which is why their version of a four-door sedan, the Jaguar XF, is a very extraordinary vehicle.
Shockingly, this reputable automaker didn't have such a big success with its XF model. Owners reported it was performing poorly, had small quality issues when it came to the car's interior, wasn't very reliable, and had an extremely high maintenance cost. All of these issues had 9 percent of buyers returning the car within the first year.
Citroen Pluriel
Originally marketed as a fun car for young people, the 2002 Citroen Pluriel was a great car that provided everything you'd ever dreamed of. That is, besides having to manually remove and assemble the roof on your own.
This nuisance, along with average performance, had buyers returning or trading the Pluriel within the first year.
Honda Ridgeline
Honda's Ridgeline model was the company's first attempt at finding its way into the pickup market. It was a great-looking pickup that followed Honda’s build to the letter and was instantly recognizable as part of the automaker's lineup. Despite all the love, effort, and cash that went into the making of the Ridgeline, it just couldn't live up to its expectations and received extremely poor reviews.
One reviewer commented: “The Ridgeline can’t really do what most people who like trucks need it to do. Sure, some homeowners and weekend warriors may actually need a 10,000-lb towing capacity, but the Honda Ridgeline is probably just right for most.” It was also called the “anti-truck” by another reviewer.
Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier is a great light-duty pickup truck, with its only shortcoming being that it is not really apt as a working vehicle, as stated by many owners.
This is the main reason why so many buyers end up trading or selling their Nissan Frontier after just a year of purchasing it. Frontier owners have claimed that "the compact Frontier has the same shortcomings for hauling and towing while also having the worst fuel economy in its class."
BMW X1
The turbocharged, four-cylinder engine BMW X1 is a fine piece of machinery. It is considered to be one of BMW's best and smallest crossovers, with smooth handling that makes it incredibly enjoyable to drive.
Any car manufactured by BMW will be an excellent one, but the X1 does have a few flaws that make around 10 percent of its owners say goodbye to it within a year of ownership. Owners have reported that the X1 gets quite loud on a freeway, and the driving gets a little difficult when you hit a rough road.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Land Rover is a known car brand, especially when it comes to adventurous driving off the beaten path. And their Discovery Sport model is a favorite for people that are looking to spend a fair amount of time going on adventures. The powerful engine and off-road features make the Land Rover Discovery Sport an excellent choice for explorers.
Unfortunately, even though this luxurious, powerful SUV is practical for off-road and everyday driving alike, the expensive maintenance costs and reliability problems cause almost 12 percent of buyers to say goodbye within the first 11 months of purchase.
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is Porsche's gorgeous full-size SUV, and it is widely popular among drivers. Not to mention Porsche's biggest income maker. The Cayenne comes in a variety of trims and engines and is considered one of the best SUVs in the world.
Unfortunately, despite its unique luxury and amazing speed, the Cayenne is very costly to own and maintain. This causes nearly 9 percent of buyers to get rid of the car just a year after purchasing it.
Kia Cadenza
The Kia Cadenza is just another entry in the fairly unpopular large sedans category. Its V6 is lacking in power, and the ride suffers from boring handling that takes away the fun and excitement of driving. Not to mention the car is not at all reliable.
With a starting price of $33,000, it just wasn't worth the maintenance costs, so owners started ditching this Kia within the first year of having bought it.
Nissan Rogue Sport
Even though its name suggests otherwise, the Nissan Rogue isn't very sporty. On the other hand, it is an extremely comfortable SUV with ample space and cozy seats. But that's what it is - a comfy SUV for everyday driving.
The Rogue Sport has a 141 horsepower engine and a CVT transmission that make the car quite slow and under-performing. This has unfortunately led buyers to ditch the Rogue within a year after purchasing it.
Acura ILX
While being a comfortable car to drive and having reliable and easy handling, the Acura ILX is primarily based on a last-generation Honda Civic, which makes it a very underwhelming car.
While the idea of a luxury sedan in a small car sounds good on paper, it doesn’t live up in its execution, reminding us of a small and messy apartment that was temporarily tidied by violently stuffing everything into the closets. Obviously, owners didn't take long to figure this out, and many of them got rid of the car within a year of having purchased it.
Porsche 911
Porsche is one of the world's best and most luxurious automakers, and it is the unabated king of sports cars. Driving a Porsche, especially the 911 model, is one of the most exciting experiences a person can have on the road. There are several versions of the Porsche 911, each one having a unique feature that makes it even more special to its owner.
Surprisingly, not every owner agrees. People have reported the car having some faults, which has led 7 percent of buyers to return the car less than a year after purchasing.
Dodge Challenger
A fun muscle car with great speed, the Dodge Challenger, doesn't try to be pretentious. With nine different models of the Challenger available, from the SXT to the Hellcat Redeye Widebody, this car is definitely a powerful piece of machinery.
Once a racing king, the Challenger has since fallen back from the spotlight, with nearly 7 percent of buyers returning them after a year of having purchased them. The exorbitant maintenance costs don't help, either.
Explorer Sport Trac
When Ford wanted to make a compact pickup truck, they chose to take an SUV and turn it into a truck by adding a flatbed in the back. Simply taking the Explorer's cargo and putting it in a small bed instead isn't that much of a good idea. Instead of copying an existing model, it would have been much better if the automaker had designed a new model from the ground up.
Ford’s Explorer Sport Trac lacks a lot of the quality that you'd find in some of the auto maker's better pickups, and it also costs quite a bit of money. It's not surprising people started returning it within the first year.
Porsche Macan
Amazing reviews weren't enough to keep the Porsche Macan from being returned by 7 percent of buyers within the first year.
Much like sports cars, luxury cars like the Porsche Macan significantly drop their value after the first twelve months. On top of that, the Macan's good looks and sharp style aren't enough to keep owners interested.
Nissan Armada
The V8 Armada has been deemed one of the “worst fuel-efficient in mid-sized/large SUV” category, with 14 MPG for the city and 19 for the highway. While it does compete well against other SUVs in its class, the severe fuel consumption and lackluster infotainment systems put it slightly behind.
Car and Driver gave this one a 3.5 out of 5. Another review had buyers rushing to return this behemoth of a vehicle within the first year.
Nissan Versa Note
Nissan is known for being one of the most trusted car makers in the world. Its Versa Note model is not only beautiful but also a better version than their Versa sedan. The Note has a lot of attractive features, such as it being relatively affordable and reliable.
Unfortunately, there are many other automakers that offer a higher number of features for a better price and a more enjoyable driving experience. So, nearly 10 percent of its buyers end up ditching the Note within their first year.
Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette is a gorgeous little automobile and the king of sports cars. The newest C7 generation includes a powerful V8 engine that makes the Chevrolet Corvette a car to be reckoned with. The Stingray and Grandsport versions offer great performance, and the Z06 and ZR1 are track beasts that are capable of virtually anything.
However, even though any model is delightful to drive and offers incredible speed with an engine rumble that makes your heart fill up with excitement, almost 7 percent of new owners returned the car within the first year.
Mitsubishi L200
The Mitsubishi L200 was one of the Japanese car manufacturer's only pickup trucks, and it definitely showed. This 1978 truck bears the same look as many of Mitsubishi's vehicles, but with a flatbed in the back. It was a compact pickup with wheels that were not much larger than a regular car.
Based on many accounts from truck owners, the truck would tend to gather rust underneath it in less than just a year after it was first purchased. This resulted in many buyers returning the car just a few months after having bought it.
Ram Pickup 1500
The Ram Pickup 1500 is a magnificent truck, but unfortunately, this Dodge model is returned or sold by 4 percent of its owners within the first year.
In 2019, Dodge redesigned the Ram 1500, and it received mostly positive reviews. The new Ram 1500 has a quiet and comfortable cabin, but apparently, it lacks a lot of driver-assist features.
Mercedes-Benz GLA
The Mercedes Benz GLA is a luxurious automobile and one of the finest crossovers in the market. Featuring a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and sharp handling, the GLA is extremely fun to drive on winding roads. The GLA's small size makes it easy to navigate and makes it possible for the car to reach 34 mpg on the freeway.
Still, the GLA's stuffy back seats, small cargo area, high maintenance costs, and insurance have led 8.5 percent of owners to return this Mercedes within a year of buying it.
Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback
The Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback doesn’t just give the mirage of being cheap; it actually is. Despite having a very good fuel economy and being one of the cheapest cars you can get when on sale, the Mirage has been criticized for having very slow acceleration speeds, a rough and noisy engine, excessive road noise at highway speeds, and a low-buck interior.
This led to many owners returning the Mirage within the first year of having bought it, and to be fair; it's preferable to spend a little bit more money on a far better car.
MINI Clubman
The Mini Cooper hatchback has a more stretched-out version called the Clubman. The first series of Clubmans had small suicide rear doors, with later models having full-size doors. Although many consider the Clubman to be a station wagon, it still looks a bit odd, like a badly stretched Mini Cooper.
The car's beautiful aesthetic and comfortable driving made it a favorite when it first came out. However, very high maintenance costs and poor automotive critic reviews led 11 percent of buyers to get rid of the Clubman within the first year of ownership.
Fiat
The Fiat is one of the world's easiest and funnest cars to drive, but it also has a very high return rate for the first year. Many owners claim that the car is unreliable.
Many buyers explain their decision of returning their Fiat within the first year by stating that, "As a brand, FIATs are plagued by the reputation of being unreliable, and the FIAT 500 has been a mainstay on unreliable vehicle lists by JD Power and Consumer Reports."
Land Rover
Land Rover is an iconic automaker, but in 2018, it found that nearly 7 percent of its buyers were returning their vehicles within the first year after purchasing. Considering the Land Rover's SUV market is fairly small, this is a worrying figure for the company.
Land Rover is known for its smooth yet powerful off-road features. What is slightly more problematic is the way it drives on a regular freeway.
GMC Canyon
Starting at $22,000, the GMC Canyon is definitely a slightly more affordable option than its competitors when it comes to pickup trucks. A great light-duty pickup truck, the Canyon has incredible mileage per gallon and is also very reliable.
However, 5 percent of owners still return the car within the first year. So, if you're in the market for a good pickup truck, you might want to take a look at other options before making a purchase.
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan is a very decent competitor to some of the world's best pickup trucks. However, despite its 390 horsepower V8 engine, the Titan's underwhelming towing and payload ratings have made it a less desirable option than its competitors.
The quality of the ride is said to be too harsh at times, and since the towing, the power, and the payload fall short when it comes to competitors, nearly 8 percent of Titan owners have returned the car after less than a year of buying it.
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper has been on the market for a very long time, being the favorite tiny car of many dedicated owners. Recently though, the automaker has released bigger and newer models with a high return rate within the first year, and have affected the return rate of the great Mini as well.
Nowadays, the Mini has a 7 percent return rate within the first year. Owners should definitely stick to the classic, tiny Mini Cooper and not indulge with the larger models.
PT Cruiser Convertible
Originally intended for younger crowds, due to its low price, the Chrysler PT Cruiser actually caught the attention of older crowds. But they ended up returning the car within the first year.
Even though it had fairly good mileage per gallon, the PT Cruiser just didn't make the cut. Perhaps also because it looked like a bad vintage car.
Honda Clarity
Honda has reliably produced hybrids in the past few years, but this venture into fully electric didn't go without a hiccup. With a comfortable cabin and solid driving range, you'd expect it to be very well received, but Edmunds chose to rate it as "acceptable" rather than anything stellar. This prompted many owners to return or sell the Clarity within the first year.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a brand new electric Clarity since these cars are in fairly limited supply, but with an acceleration that takes 8.4 seconds to cover 0-60 mph and average technological prowess inside the car, it might be better to consider any alternative to this $35,000 car.
Subaru Baja
Subaru took another crack at the pickup market with their Baja model. They hoped that the car would attract new consumers, marketing it as an adventure vehicle for off-road fun rather than a classic work pickup truck. But buyers started returning the vehicle within the first year of use.
The Baja was cursed with awful sales for four straight years until Subaru decided to discontinue it in 2006.
Land Rover Evoque
Land Rover's tiniest SUV is their Evoque model, which was a huge hit when it first came out in 2011. With a beautiful body, a luxurious interior, a powerful four-cylinder engine, and off-road features, this SUV definitely has character.
The Evoque can trudge through water and has the famous Terrain Response system, which makes it perfect for off-road adventures. The only downside is that this little SUV has very big maintenance and insurance cost, causing 11 percent of users to abandon the Evoque within the first year.
Ford Mustang
When you read the words 'Ford Mustang,' you immediately think of one of the greatest automobiles ever built. A staple in the Ford company, the Mustang model, is an iconic vehicle, helping redefine American muscle car culture since its introduction back in 1965.
To this day, the Mustang keeps its retro look while offering owners the unparalleled power Ford is known for. However, it does have one noticeable downside: the miles per gallon. Even though this shouldn't be concerning to a person that can afford a sports car in the first place, it's a big expense to consider when buying this car. It's the main reason why so many Mustang owners end up returning this beast within a year of buying it.
Honda Odyssey
The 2019 Honda Odyssey is highly regarded for its modern family safety and tech features, with a V6 that's powerful enough to make any father happy when he wants to kick the pedal by himself.
However, Consumer Reports called it one of the worst SUVs ever made, with 5 percent of owners returning it within the first year. Still, we recommend giving the Odyssey a test drive in your nearest dealership before making a decision for your family car.
BMW 3-Series
When it comes to sports sedans, the BMW 3-Series is at the top of the heap. The 3-Series has a smooth and extremely powerful engine and a fine-tuned chassis that make this vehicle a top choice for customers looking for power and luxury.
As powerful and practical as the 3-Series is, it also has the downsides that make 12 percent of buyers return or sell it within the first year. This mid-size sports sedan has exorbitantly high maintenance costs that prove too much for a lot of buyers.
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado is a light-duty pickup truck that features an excellent engine, good gas mileage, and a very comfortable cabin. Not to mention it's a Chevrolet.
However, Colorado is still returned or traded by 4.1 percent of buyers within the first year! The biggest problem with the Chevy Colorado is the small cabin size, which proved to be an issue for tall drivers.
Volkswagen Atlas
Usually known for their high quality and reliability, it was a surprise when the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas was deemed unreliable. Many buyers started returning or selling the Atlas within a few months of use!
Consumer Reports said, “Though the V6 engine and smooth eight-speed automatic make the Atlas feel lively during everyday driving, its acceleration trails competitors’ and it's 20 mpg overall fuel economy is not outstanding,” There you have it!
Mercedes-Benz
It is shocking to see that the German automaker giant Mercedes Benz has such a high return rate for its vehicles. A whopping 8 percent of owners return their Mercedes within the first year.
Like other luxury brands, the problem is the annoyingly high maintenance costs, which obviously cannot be avoided.
Pontiac Aztek
This 4-door crossover has received mostly negative reviews since the start of its life. Despite its solid performance, the car was criticized for being quite possibly one of the ugliest cars in existence.
Apart from an unattractive body, the car is also lacking in performance. This was enough for many buyers to return the Aztek within the first year.
Audi
Surprisingly, Audi is one of the top luxury cars with the highest number of returned vehicles within the first year of purchase.
The reason is that an Audi significantly decreases in value after the first year, and it has extremely high maintenance costs. These two factors are very destructive when it comes to customer loyalty, which is why 5 percent of American buyers return the cars after the first twelve months.
BMW
BMW is known for being one of the world's top luxury carmakers, but shockingly, this German auto giant has a return rate of 8 percent within the first year!
The reason for this has nothing to do with quality since BMW makes some of the world's finest automobiles. It has to do with the fact that luxury cars just have a higher return rate within the first year of purchase than non-luxury cars.
Lincoln Blackwood
Lincoln is well known for producing some of the most luxurious high-end town cars currently on the market. Unfortunately, when Lincoln attempted to stride their way into the pickup truck market in 2002, the results were much worse than expected and led to the creation of one of the most unusable pickup trucks in the world: the Blackwood.
The Blackwood pickup truck lacked many key things that a great pickup needs to have — It had a small interior, a tiny bed, and lacked durability. All of these made the car extremely unattractive and resulted in many owners returning the truck within the first year.
BMW X3
The X3 is BMW's is slightly bigger than the X1, making it a mid-size SUV that is still easy and delightful to drive.
However, even though the X3 is a beautiful-looking vehicle with a luxurious interior, sharp handling, and powerful 355-horsepower six-cylinder engine, almost 10 percent of buyers sold or returned the X3 after just one year of owning it. The reason? Maintenance costs were simply too high.
Nissan 370Z
The Nissan 370Z is a gorgeous-looking sports car. With a 332 horsepower V6 engine and a rear-wheel-drive chassis, the 370Z was all the rage when it first came out in 2008. However, after twelve years of being virtually unchanged or upgraded by Nissan, the 370Z is now lagging behind its competitors.
Compared to more modern sports cars, the 370Z is not as smooth and light as other brands, which is why 8 percent of buyers tend to ditch it within one year of purchase.
Nissan
Nissan is known as one of the most reliable cars in the world, but in reality, many owners have actually said the opposite, which is truly shocking, considering that Nissan has been on the streets for decades, with sales only increasing in recent years.
Consumer Reports and JD Power reported, "Nissan regularly finishes near the bottom for Consumer Reports brand reliability rankings, and models like the Pathfinder and the Sentra consistently earn the lowest possible scores for owner satisfaction ratings." Yikes!
Dodge Dart
When Dodge initially revived the Dart in 2012, it was a big hit, but the model only lasted a total of four years before the company discontinued it. In a 2019 study conducted by iSeeCars, it was listed as one of the most likely cars for buyers to either return to the dealership or resell after just one year of ownership.
A number of common car issues (high maintenance costs, low miles per gallon, etc.) not only increased a quick turnaround but also led to much lower sales numbers than Dodge was hoping for. It wasn't long before the Dart disappeared, and Dodge switched their focus to other models.
BMW 4-Series
It's really not all that surprising that luxury car makers see so many returns. People who buy them are paying through the nose to get the best, and if what they get ISN'T the best, they aren't interested. Plus, maintenance tends to be expensive.
What's worse, companies like BMW don't have the best reputations when it comes to quality. Costs are always higher than just the initial cost. This all leads to the BMW 4-Series is one of the most returned cars that have come off of BMW's line, with almost four percent of 4-Series being resold or returned in the first year. It's an alarming number for BMW.
Chrysler 200
A whopping three-point-eight percent of Chrysler 200s that have been sold end up being returned to the dealership or resold by their owners in the first year. This model first appeared in 2010, and it did have its day in the sun – it was selling more than a hundred and twenty thousand units a year for a little while.
For one reason or another, buyers started to resell the cars or send them back to the dealer. Predictably, reviews for the cars and sale numbers started to plummet. Chrysler discontinued the model in 2016, and they haven't brought it back up since.
Subaru WRX
This one might come as a surprise since Subaru has a great reputation as a car manufacturer. They've produced some of the best vehicles on the market, but even the experts are going to have some mistakes on their resumes.
The WRX appears to have a far smaller amount of care put into the design than most of the other models (except for maybe the Baja), and consumers noticed, returning or reselling the car quickly. Big issues include a lot of engine noise while driving and an interior that doesn't have a lot of comforts. However, it wasn't all bad – reviews state a good amount of control.
Mercedes E-Class
For a lot of people, Mercedes means quality. That changed for plenty when the Mercedes E-Class came out since it's been called one of the least reliable cars on the road. “J.D. Power and Associates” gave it only two out of five for reliability, a crushing score that is certainly not something Mercedes-Benz is trying to achieve.
This lack of reliability, as well as skyrocketing maintenance costs, made buyers turn their backs on the model. With a price tag of more than fifty thousand dollars, buyers expected a lot more than what they were seeing. With all these problems, the E-Class was almost dead on arrival.
Buick Regal
Apparently, the Buick Regal had always had a “buyer beware” sticker on it, even when the model debuted all the way back in 1973. On average, a Regal will lose an estimated thirty-two percent of its initial value after just one year of ownership, a staggering amount.
What's worse, even if you try to resell, you'll find a lot of people turning their noses up at the model since there have been plenty of issues that reviewers are quick to point out. Buick has made strides toward refurbishing the model's reputation, but it still has a long way to go in creating a car that people will want to keep for more than a year or one that will be worth it.
Chrysler 300
When Walter White, the main character of the hit TV show “Breaking Bad,” spent some of his ill-gotten gains on this luxury car, sales skyrocketed. People rushed to dealers to pick up the same luxury car as Bryan Cranston's character, but far too many realized it might have been a mistake to buy a car on a whim.
Like a lot of other Chryslers, the 300 models didn't have a great track record when it came to reliability, meaning repair and upkeep costs were high. Combine that with an average yearly depreciation of thirty-two percent; it ended up leaving a lot of people with a car they didn't want and one that didn't let them get their money back.
Cadillac ATS
Cadillacs are some of the most well-regarded cars on the market. Calling something a “Cadillac of X” is a mark of quality. But even they have their failures. The ATS ranks poorly among other luxury cars of its type. Though the performance isn't too bad, it wasn't as reliable as other cars that Cadillac has produced, the cabin was unimpressive, and both the seating space and the trunk space were too low.
For a luxury car, people expect more. In addition, and along with many of the other vehicles on this list, the car depreciated rather quickly, meaning most people tried to get rid of it not long after buying to try and recoup their losses.
Lincoln MKZ
This one might come as a surprise if you watch sales numbers since the MKZ is Lincoln's best-selling sedan. High sales numbers don't always mean satisfied customers; however – despite the sales numbers, this model is no longer a focus for the automaker, meaning attention to detail and overall quality have both fallen.
The car's engine is a bog-standard four cylinders, and while the cabin and the driving tech both speak of luxury, the experience as a whole remains uncompelling. We've seen worse on this list, but, again, a luxury car needs to be more than just “standard.”
Nissan Maxima
From more than forty thousand units in 2019 to just twenty thousand in 2020, the Nissan Maxima took a dive. More and more people found that the car couldn't be trusted, so there was no reason for them to buy a car they figured they would want to return in short order.
Some of the problems that appeared include a transmission that doesn't fit in with the rest of the car and suspension that feels too stiff for how the car handles. As always, expensive repairs and frequent breaks had a lot of people turning away to find different options.
BMW 5-Series
The thing people are looking for when they get a luxury car is excitement. A Toyota Camry is a long-lasting car, but it isn't exactly exciting. The BMW 5-Series isn't exciting to drive, and some even called the steering downright boring.
The interior design is dated, and the appearance of some of the materials can seem cheap. There's some cool tech inside, but it doesn't wow. For many people, there just wasn't enough to excite them about the 5-Series, leading to lots of returns and reselling, and another spot on this list for BMW.
Infiniti QX60
After five years, this Infiniti model loses an average of sixty-five percent of its value, despite solid ratings. However, a lot of people found the powertrain to be lacking, and it's been noted for its sub-par reliability. It's not the worst car on this list by any means, but the furious rate of depreciation and the problems that have arisen make it a car that savvy buyers will offload before the value drops too much.
Too often, that means within the first year. So many luxury cars bleed value away like they've been shot that unless their rides turn out to be comfortable and long-lasting, most buyers will just keep flipping through the models.
Volvo XC60
This car might have one of the strangest reasons for why people ended up returning it so much – the entertainment system. According to critics, the speakers, media players, and screens are clunky and outdated.
There are many who believe being able to play music or shows while in the car to be an important part, and it can certainly lead to people not being too happy with the car. There's also the fact that the vehicle loses a lot of its value at quite a clip – a difference of about thirty thousand dollars after the first five years. With a starting cost of almost fifty thousand, it's not worth it.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
As one of the priciest cars on this list, it comes as no surprise that some people would feel bad about spending so much to get a new ride when there are so many cheaper options. Even worse, the amount of value that this luxury car loses just by driving it off the lot is astounding – after five years, the value plummets from a hundred and twenty thousand dollars to a mere forty thousand.
The cost is prohibitive, and the depreciation leads a lot of people who do buy it to trade in quickly, so they can get back as much as possible. With high repair and ownership costs, it's best to keep moving.
Volvo S60
With a luxurious interior and decent engine options for the price, the Volvo S60 is a luxury car that most buyers will be fine with. However, the entertainment system is outdated and prone to failure – as well as being hard to use – and the rear seats of the vehicle have been described as cramped and uncomfortable.
Here's another car that bleeds value as soon as it hits the road, even if it is listed as one of the safest cars to drive. If a car is too expensive to keep in working condition, nobody is going to want to drive it for long.
Maserati Ghibli
Even though the Ghibli is Maserati's most affordable luxury midsize sedan, recent models have fallen behind on tech compared to other options. These include adaptive cruise control and front seats with all the adjustable options of competitors.
Since these are all driving options, and not necessarily power problems or repair issues, some people will be able to get through the problems and continue using the Ghibli, but those that don't usually try to sell as quickly as possible, since the car's depreciation is swift and merciless – it loses more than a third of its value in just a few years.
Audi A6
The Audi A6 has perfect safety scores from governments; it boasts a high-end interior with lots of cool techs and a choice of powerful engines. So why is it on this list? Well, all that fancy stuff has a tendency to break down.
Despite the high price, the car has below-average reliability ratings across the board, and a lot of owners find themselves looking down the barrel of expensive repairs even after paying more than sixty thousand dollars for the car itself. What's the point of owning a fancy car if you have to schlep it to the mechanic every few months just to keep it running?
Nissan Leaf
There aren't many hybrid vehicles on this list since they're usually pretty reliable and good to keep around for a while. The Nissan Leaf is a rare exception. It's not a perfect car by any stretch – the powertrain is mediocre, leading to difficulties doing things like passing on the highway.
There's also the fact that electric and hybrid vehicles often quickly become outdated thanks to rapid advancements in battery life and range. So while the Leaf isn't a terrible car, it still depreciates quickly, and a lot of people end up trading them in or reselling them not too long after they are first purchased.
BMW 7-Series
Here's what you need to take away from some of the entries in this article: even if a car is good, people still might not want it for very long. Such is the case with the BMW 7-Series, which is a super-luxury sedan that often costs more than a hundred thousand dollars.
It has a spacious interior and a comfortable ride, but the costs associated with such a fancy car are exorbitant. As always, this luxury car has a lightning-fast depreciation since the features and technology, while expensive, aren't highly valued by drivers, especially those who are getting a used car. An enormous seventy thousand dollars disappear from the car's value after a few years.
Maserati Quattroporte
According to a study done by research firm iSeeCars, this luxury car has the highest rate of depreciation recorded over a five-year period, at seventy-two-point-two percent. Based on the average price of cars bought, that's almost a hundred thousand dollars.
This amazing depreciation is due to luxury car owners regularly trading them in and not wanting to pay premium prices on dated models. There are also high maintenance and ownership prices to consider. If you do own this super-fancy car, selling it within the first year is really the only way to make it back anywhere near your initial investment.