10 Lowest Quality Car Brands Retirees Should Avoid in 2024

Whether your retirement lifestyle is full of high-mileage road trips or you prefer to do things at a more relaxed pace, you need your car to be reliable. The last thing you want in your golden years is a vehicle that drains your savings with constant repairs or leaves you stranded on the side of the road.

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As the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study reveals, not all brands are created equal. The study uses problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) as the primary metric of vehicle quality, with the industry average being set at 195 PP100.

Here are the ten lowest quality car brands on the list – ones to consider avoiding if you value your independence, safety and financial peace of mind .

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Polestar (316 PP100)

Although recent Polestar models draw positive reviews from specialist reviewers like Car and Driver , the brand comes at the bottom of the J.D. Power quality study, with 316 problems per 100 vehicles. While the brand’s PP100 could indeed indicate low quality, it’s also worth considering whether the EV market’s growing pains and general supply issues could have something to do with the rating.

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Dodge (301 PP100)

Despite coming second to last in the J.D. Power study and also featuring on CarEdge’s Least Reliable Car Brands of 2024 list with a Predicted Reliability Score of 42/100, Dodge was actually the highest-ranking brand in last year’s study . This dramatic fall from the top could be partly thanks to the 2024 Dodge Hornet, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reporting multiple recalls, complaints and manufacturer communications for that particular model.

Tesla (266 PP100)

Tesla’s reliability issues are apparent in the 23,000 Cybertrucks being recalled due to faulty wiper motors and trim problems. These recalls, including a previous one for accelerator pedal defects, highlight ongoing concerns with the brand’s quality control. Since Tesla was included in the quality study (2022), the company has consistently ranked near the bottom .

Rivian (266 PP100)

With a CarEdge Predicted Reliability Score of 24/100, Rivian is the third EV brand on the list, tying with Tesla at 266 PP100. It’s also one of Consumer Reports’ worst car brands for 2024 , with significant reliability concerns from owners.

Volvo (242 PP100)

Common complaints for 2024 Volvos seem to be electrical issues, engine problems and a frustrating infotainment system. With a CarEdge Predicted Reliability Score of 28/100, maintenance and repair costs for Volvo models average $11,328 for the first 10 years, over $6,000 higher than the luxury car industry average!

Audi (242 PP100)

Although it ties in with Volvo at 242 PP100, unlike Volvo, Audi doesn’t feature in the CarEdge Least Reliable Car Brands of 2024 list.

The other four brands at the bottom of the J.D. Power list were Volkswagen (241 PP100), Mazda (232 PP100), Alpha Romeo (226 PP100) and Lincoln (224 PP100).

Choosing the Right Car Brand

Owning a low quality car can lead to frequent, costly repairs, and a car that frequently needs repairs can bring safety concerns. You should also consider the resale value of a car, which is particularly relevant for retirees relying on social security.

For a more reliable alternative, the J.D. Power study had Stellantis Ram as its top brand, with 145 PP100, followed by General Motors’ Chevrolet (160 PP100), Hyundai (162 PP100), Kia (163 PP100), Buick (164 PP100) and Nissan (166 PP100).

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 10 Lowest Quality Car Brands Retirees Should Avoid in 2024