Among the models on the list, the Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Spark stand out the most.
Not all cars are equally reliable. Some demand costly maintenance and cause endless headaches. Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot, highlighted several models he wouldn’t buy in 2025—despite their appeal on the surface.
Nissan Altima (2013–2020)
The Altima sedan looks modern and upscale, but its biggest flaw is the CVT transmission.
“I would never buy an Altima because of the endless CVT problems,” Gelfand said. “We’ve had to replace transmissions on these cars countless times, often failing around 60,000 miles.”
Chevrolet Spark
The Spark’s affordable price tag makes it attractive at first glance, but Gelfand insists it’s a poor choice.
“It’s poorly built, noisy, and seriously underpowered,” the expert explained.
Instead, he recommends looking at used Hondas or Toyotas, which he says last much longer.
Range Rover Evoque
The stylish design of the compact luxury crossover Evoque hides some serious flaws.
“It’s a good-looking vehicle, but unreliable. We see oil leaks, transmission issues, and even complete electrical failures—sometimes before 75,000 miles,” Gelfand noted.
Jeep Renegade
The compact Renegade might seem like a convenient city crossover, but according to Gelfand, it’s one of the least reliable options out there.
“From the outside it looks modern, but in reality it suffers from frequent electrical glitches, mediocre handling, and infotainment problems. Owners often find themselves back in the shop,” he said.