Here are the vehicles to avoid in 2025 according to three artificial intelligences

No one wants to buy a poorly designed or unreliable vehicle that will cause frustration and inconvenience, or require repeated visits to the dealer. That's why so many readers of The Car Guide are interested in our various articles and reports highlighting quality and reliability problems, safety recalls, class actions, and more.

The make and model rankings we publish from time to time are also much consulted. What's more, both in the book and on the web, every vehicle page gives you its The Car Guide rating in the form of stars or as a percentage.

More and more people are using conversational robots for information, and that includes consumers shopping for a new vehicle. It's important to bear in mind that some information may be inaccurate or imprecise, but multiplying sources and references helps to get a better idea.

With this in mind, we put the following question to three popular artificial intelligences: which new vehicles should you avoid? Here are the rough answers we got...

ChatGPT

OpenAI's conversational robot starts by saying that, “when it comes to new vehicles to avoid, it's important to consider several criteria: reliability, maintenance costs, safety, fuel consumption, as well as the brand's reputation.” He then presents makes and models that, “as a general rule”, may be inadvisable.

1. Brands with poor reliability or reputation: “certain brands are often cited for their poor reliability, high maintenance costs or recurring problems with their models”. ChatGPT gives the examples of Fiat and Jeep, particularly the Cherokee and Compass, which have suffered from transmission and mechanical reliability problems.
2. Vehicles too expensive to maintain: “Some vehicles may seem attractive at first, but the cost of maintenance and repair can quickly become a problem”, such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A3 and A4, and Land Rover Range Rover.
3. Vehicles with excessive fuel consumption: “some models, although efficient in terms of performance, can be fuel guzzlers”. These include luxury SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5, as well as large pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500.
4. Vehicles with overly complex or fragile technology: “Modern vehicles are often equipped with advanced technologies, but some of these technologies can be prone to failures or bugs”. Among the examples given is the Tesla Model 3 (which has “at times shown flaws in build quality and electronic reliability, finishing issues and recurring infotainment system failures”).

ChatGPT concludes by saying: "It's not a question of saying that these vehicles are bad in absolute terms, but of taking into account the possible disadvantages they may present, particularly in terms of reliability, safety, maintenance costs and fuel consumption. Before choosing a model, it's important to research user opinions and feedback, and compare maintenance costs and safety test results." Now that's wise.

Gemeni

Google's artificial intelligence first invites you to find out which models and brands have the most reliability problems, then lists vehicles and manufacturers to avoid based on reliability reports (such as those from Consumer Reports and other sources) and user reviews.

Among the many specific models to avoid in 2025, Gemini mentions the Volkswagen ID.4, Genesis G70, Ford F-150 Lightning and Escape Hybrid, Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, Nissan Frontier, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Alfa Romeo Stelvio. For each, several problem areas are mentioned, giving a more accurate picture.

There's also mention of “models with low owner satisfaction ratings, indicating that many would not buy them again”: Nissan Altima and Sentra, Volkswagen Jetta and Taos, Kia Forte, Sorento hybrid and Seltos, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Infiniti QX50, and so on.

Then, brands “to be considered with caution” include those from the Stellantis Group (Fiat, Jeep, Chrysler, etc.), Volkswagen, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Tesla, again with indications of the main alleged problems.

Gemini concludes by saying that it's advisable when buying a new vehicle to consult reliable sources such as Consumer Reports, J.D. Power or specialized automotive guides that publish reliability rankings; look for problems specific to the model and powertrain of interest; take owner feedback into account (online forums and reviews can give an idea of common problems); check recall history; and favor models with a proven track record of reliability, remembering that reliability can vary from model year to model year and even from powertrain to powertrain within the same model. Agreed.

Copilot

As for Microsoft's conversational robot, which begins by pointing out that “buying a new vehicle is a big investment, so it's best to avoid unpleasant surprises”, the answer it provides is rather shorter, but based on “recent data from Consumer Reports and other reliable sources”.

Some recent models that are problematic in terms of reliability, comfort or performance, according to Copilot, are the Ford Explorer 2023-2024 (transmission problems, noisy engine, limited driving comfort), the Hyundai Elantra 2023 (below-average mechanical and electronic reliability), the Volkswagen ID.4 2023-2024 (frustrating multimedia interface, disappointing range), Chevrolet Blazer EV 2024 (new electric models often subject to teething troubles), GMC Canyon 2023-2024 (history of recurring problems over several years), Tesla Model X 2023 (uneven build quality, frequent software problems) and Jeep Grand Cherokee 2023 (variable reliability depending on version and year).

"These models are not necessarily catastrophic, but they do present more risks than the average. There are often more reliable and higher-rated alternatives in the same category," says Copilot, before offering to help us find recommended models according to our needs (family, electric, economy, etc.) and to suggest options according to our budget or driving style.

On that note, The Car Guide reminds you that you can always write to us for advice and answers to help you choose your next vehicle. You could even be one of our Readers' Questions.