Most new cars on sale today prove that passenger vehicles are better than ever. Touted as safer, faster and more fuel efficient, they also boast incredible levels of technology, while offering much higher reliability rates than their predecessors. But for some manufacturers, getting to this point may not have been without a few bumps in the road.
When an automaker releases a turkey, the public is usually the first to point it out, pointing out a car’s flaws, weaknesses, and bad points. These vehicles generally become resounding sales failures, something Lincoln learned with the terrible Blackwood station wagon, a vehicle that the public hated.
History has some four-wheeled lemons, and here are 10 car brands that were considered to have built examples of the worst cars ever made.
10 Reva G-Wiz
Looking more like an oversized children’s toy, the Reva G-Wiz is surprisingly a real car. Made in India, the G-Wiz is an all-electric vehicle capable of covering 50 miles between charges. Designed for two adults and two children, it is known for being built to a low standard.
Once crammed inside, owners would quickly realize that the G-Wiz was not a quality product, with large gaps in the body panels, often letting in the rain. At the same time, the underpowered engine struggled to pull it to 50 mph. This was probably a blessing, due to the lack of security features.
9 One of the worst cars ever made was the Ford Pinto
It has been noted that it is the first subcompact Ford never built, the Pinto was a costly failure. The Pinto had been launched into the market, resulting in poor design. As a result, if the Ford Pinto was involved in a rear-end collision, the gas tank could rupture, potentially causing an explosion.
Several lawsuits were filed against Ford, with the company having to pay millions in damages and fines. The Ford Pinto earned a reputation as a health hazard. It was later discovered that the cost to correct the problem would have cost only $11 per vehicle.
8 Pontiac Aztek
Often referred to as one of the ugliest cars ever made, the Pontiac Aztek is also one of the worst cars in the world. Despite cool features like a pull-out fridge, sliding cargo floor and rear stereo controls, the Aztek remains an uninspiring vehicle to drive.
Pontiac’s idea to make an SUV-come-Coupe-come-Minivan confused everyone, and it wasn’t even able to do any job well. Also, the 185bhp 3.4-litre V6 provided no thrills and drained fuel at an alarming rate. It was just a mess of ideas made real and a vehicle to avoid.
7 Chevrolet SSR
On paper, the Chevrolet SSR must have looked like a surefire success. A retro-style convertible pickup truck with a 390 hp V8 engine is set to be the new craze. In metal, it was a huge failure. Yes, it was unique, and yes, it was pretty fast. But nobody cared.
A Chevrolet SSR will scoot from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and happily melt a set of rear tires. But the Chevy SSR was an anomaly and served a market that didn’t exist. It lacked functionality, wasn’t worth driving, and wasn’t a great idea for a vehicle to begin with.
6 Maserati Biturbo
Maserati can proudly claim the Biturbo as the first production vehicle of its kind. A twin-turbo luxury sports car with a luxury interior. It was a bold project and one that relied on the twin-turbo V6 engine for success. It sold well, but broke a lot.
To say the Maserati Biturbo is unreliable is an understatement. The complex engine setup, combined with bad electrical, dooms the car to failure. Also known for suffering a long list of costly failures to fix, the Biturbo gets a well-deserved place on this list.
5 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
The Chrysler Imperial LeBaron is quite unique in its length: it’s actually 20 feet long. A huge mass of metal and glass, it was powered by a paltry 7.2 liter 220bhp V8. Hit the throttle, sit back and wait as the behemoth crawls to 60 mph in 14 seconds.
Larger than most starter homes, the Imperial LeBaron was one of the most luxurious cars on the market in the 1970s. By today’s standards, she’s just tacky, too big, and grossly underfed. In addition, there is the need to bring in gasoline at a wallet-busting rate.
4 DeLorean DMC-12
It may be the star of the silver screen, but the DeLorean DMC-12 was a terrible road car. Mechanically cobbled together from a series of lackluster borrowed parts, a DeLorean could be relied upon to break down regularly. Once underway, there wasn’t much joy.
A DeLorean DMC-12 was as sporty as a pair of Wellington boots. Its 130bhp power came from a 2.7-litre V6, allowing the car to reach 60mph in an uninspiring 10.5 seconds. Not known for its smooth handling or durable build quality, a DeLorean is not a machine for the hobbyist driver.
3 Ferrari World 8
For gearheads who think every Ferrari is a vehicle cut out for greatness, the Mondial 8 should be a warning, as there’s little on offer to elevate the Italian above being an average sports car. Anyone purchasing this classic Ferrari would be disappointed.
The first wave of cars came with a 214bhp 3.0-litre V8, delivering a 0-60mph sprint time of 8.8 seconds. That number wasn’t very fast for supercars even in the early 1980s. A Ferrari Mondial 8 also lacks visual style, with a firm approach to its style.
2 Bricklin SV-1
A quick rundown of the features would surely have excited any gearhead about the Bricklin SV-1. From the gullwing doors to the composite body and the American V8 for power, it had all the right ingredients to become a performance car winner, except it didn’t.
The Bricklin SV-1 suffered from so many problems it was embarrassing. The engines and electrics proved unreliable, the composite skins were not built to last and the car underperformed its rivals. Only 3,000 were built and approximately 1,700 survived, which isn’t bad.
1 AMC Gremlin
A compact offering from AMC, Gremlin had audiences scratching their heads from the start. Not only was the styling odd, but the Gremlin was less than inspiring to drive. A selection of weak engines, combined with poor handling, failed to impress the gears.
The little AMC Gremlin also suffered from a host of ongoing mechanical and finishing issues. The trim pieces were poorly fitted, the rear hatch would fall off, and the electrical would play. But then, if you name a car Gremlin, you shouldn’t expect it to ever run properly.
