When you talk to working technicians about which vehicles they see most often, the same problem-prone models keep coming up. High-tech features, complex drivetrains and weak quality control can turn a stylish purchase into a recurring repair appointment that drains your budget.
By listening to mechanics, reliability researchers and consumer analysts, you can spot patterns in which cars are most likely to spend more time on a lift than in your driveway. The models below show up again and again in shop bays, and understanding why can help you avoid signing up for years of avoidable repair bills.
Why some cars are always back in the bay
Cars that live at the repair shop usually share a few traits: complicated hardware, fragile electronics and a track record of unresolved design flaws. When a model combines an intricate drivetrain with cost-cutting on parts, you end up with repeat failures that no amount of careful driving can fully prevent. Mechanics see this clearly because they are the ones replacing the same components on the same models week after week.
Independent reliability data backs up what technicians describe from experience. Large surveys of owners show that some brands are far more likely to suffer faults that take the car off the road, while others can be fixed and returned within a day. In one major reliability survey, the findings explicitly noted that Revealed differences between manufacturers translate directly into how often you end up at the garage and how long you are stuck there waiting for repairs.
Chrysler Pacifica and The Pacifica Hybrid: minivans with maxed-out repair bills
On paper, the Chrysler Pacifica and its plug-in sibling, The Pacifica Hybrid, promise family comfort and cutting-edge tech. In practice, mechanics warn that both versions are frequent visitors to the shop, thanks to complex electronics, sliding-door hardware and drivetrain issues that can surface well before you expect them. Experts explicitly advise you to steer clear of the Chrysler Pacifica and the hybrid alternative because the combination of advanced features and spotty durability creates a steady stream of warranty claims and out-of-pocket fixes.
Those concerns are not limited to one model year or a handful of unlucky owners. The brand’s broader track record shows that Chrysler’s near-bottom finish in a ranking of the Least Reliable Car Brands of 2025 reflects ongoing quality challenges rather than isolated issues. When a manufacturer sits that low in reliability tables, it means the odds are higher that your Pacifica will be back in the service lane for transmission glitches, infotainment failures or sliding-door malfunctions long after the new-car smell fades.
Chrysler 200: a discontinued sedan that still haunts shops
Even though the Chrysler 200 left showrooms years ago, it has never really left repair bays. Mechanics single it out as a used car they would not buy because of persistent mechanical weaknesses that show up as the miles climb. You might be tempted by a low price on a preowned example, but technicians warn that the savings can vanish quickly once you start chasing down drivetrain and suspension problems.
One veteran mechanic put it bluntly, noting that The Chrysler 200 has been out of production since 2017, but preowned vehicles are still a headache thanks to recurring issues that can lead to premature failure. In a detailed breakdown of models to avoid, the expert highlighted how the Chrysler 200 can turn into a money pit once you factor in transmission repairs, engine troubles and electrical gremlins that are expensive to track down and fix.
Nissan Altima (2013–2020): CVT troubles that keep coming back
For many buyers, the Nissan Altima from the 2013 to 2020 model years looks like a smart, comfortable midsize sedan. Mechanics see something different: a car with a major weak point in its continuously variable transmission that can send owners back to the shop repeatedly. When a core component like the gearbox is prone to shuddering, slipping or outright failure, you are not just dealing with a nuisance, you are facing one of the most expensive repairs on the vehicle.
Technicians who work on these cars warn that the Nissan Altima (2013-2020) has a luxurious look but has a major continuously variable transmission (CVT) problem that can make it unreliable and costly to own. One mechanic went so far as to say that Nissan Altima models from this era are simply not worth the price once you factor in the risk of transmission replacement, which can easily wipe out any savings you gained by choosing a used example over a newer, more robust sedan.
Nissan Frontier: a tough-looking truck with fragile underpinnings
The Nissan Frontier sells itself as a rugged midsize pickup, but mechanics caution that its durability does not always match its image. The truck’s standard V6 power and work-ready styling appeal to buyers who need a practical hauler, yet technicians report that certain years of the Frontier show up often for drivetrain, cooling and suspension issues. When a truck is used for towing or off-road work, those weak points are exposed even faster, which is why shop owners see these models again and again.
In a detailed rundown of problem vehicles, experts singled out the Nissan Frontier as a model to avoid, noting that The Nissan Frontier is a midsize pickup truck with standard V6 power and a choice of cab configurations, but it has a reputation for reliability concerns that can lead to frequent repairs. One analysis of cars to skip in the current market explicitly warned buyers about the Nissan Frontier, echoing what mechanics see when they repeatedly replace components that should last far longer in a truck that is marketed as a dependable workhorse.
Land Rover Discovery: luxury off-roader, reliability outlier
Few SUVs look as capable and upscale as the Land Rover Discovery, with its third-row seating, high-tech interior and serious off-road hardware. Yet that same complexity is exactly why mechanics say it is constantly back in the shop. Air suspension systems, advanced four-wheel-drive components and intricate electronics give the Discovery its appeal, but they also create many more points of failure than a simpler family SUV.
Technicians and analysts point out that The Land Rover Discovery is a luxurious off-roader with third-row seating and a high-tech interior, but it has a reputation of being unreliable and can be quite expensive to repair when things go wrong. In one breakdown of models to avoid, experts highlighted how the Discovery’s premium price, which can range from Advertisement level luxury money, does not buy you peace of mind. Instead, owners often face repeated visits to the dealer for warning lights, suspension faults and software updates that keep this SUV on a first-name basis with service advisors.
Least reliable brands: when the badge itself is a red flag
Sometimes the problem is not just a single model, but the overall track record of the badge on the grille. Mechanics pay attention to which logos roll into their bays most often, and their impressions are echoed by large-scale reliability rankings that compare brands across thousands of vehicles. When a manufacturer consistently lands near the bottom, it signals that many of its cars, crossovers and trucks are more likely to suffer repeated faults.
Recent reliability research found that several manufacturers cluster at the wrong end of the charts, with one analysis listing the Least Reliable Car Brand in 2025 and warning shoppers that those looking to buy a new car in the coming year should be wary, as some popular brands may not be worth your money compared with cheaper, more reliable hybrid vehicles. Another deep dive into the Least Reliable Car Brands of the year underscored that Lincoln, highlighted with an Image Credit, and Chrysler both struggle with quality issues that translate into more time in the shop and higher long-term ownership costs.
What mechanics across Europe and the U.S. keep warning about
When you listen to technicians in different regions, you hear the same cautionary stories about certain models that turn into repeat offenders. Mechanics across Europe, for example, have been breaking their silence about a long list of cars that are absolute nightmares to maintain, from complex luxury SUVs to small crossovers with fragile engines. Their warnings are not theoretical, they are based on years of seeing the same failures and explaining the same repair estimates to frustrated owners.
Video breakdowns of problem cars capture this perspective vividly. One widely shared clip explains how mechanics across Europe are begging drivers to avoid 17 specific models that combine high purchase prices with chronic faults, while another video released in Nov walks through 8 Cars Mechanics Say You Should NEVER Buy in 2025 and describes how some vehicles are so bad it feels like they hate you personally, with constant breakdowns that turn a great deal into a financial trap, as seen in Nov. When you hear the same models criticized by shop owners in different countries, it is a strong sign that the problems are baked into the design, not just the result of local conditions.
How high maintenance costs turn “dream cars” into financial sinkholes
Even if a car is not the absolute worst in reliability rankings, high maintenance and repair costs can still make it feel like it is always in the shop. Modern vehicles pack in advanced safety systems, turbocharged engines and complex infotainment, all of which are expensive to diagnose and fix when they fail. For owners, that means every unexpected visit to the service lane carries a bigger bill, especially once the factory warranty expires.
Consumer analysts tracking the Consumer Price Index for motor vehicle maintenance and repair have documented how service costs keep climbing, and one detailed guide notes that the Consumer Price Index for this category shows just how expensive it has become to keep a car on the road after you buy the car. That is why many mechanics say Their choice to stick with dependable options like Honda and Toyota is not born of brand loyalty but a pragmatic desire to avoid turning dream purchases into financial sinkholes, a point driven home in a Dec consumer alert that highlighted 6Vehicles Mechanics Say You Must Avoid for reliable, worry-free driving.
How to use this information before you sign
Knowing which cars mechanics say are constantly back in the shop gives you leverage before you commit to a purchase. Instead of focusing only on monthly payments or flashy features, you can factor in the likelihood of repeat repairs and the cost of those fixes. That might mean walking away from a seemingly attractive deal on a Chrysler Pacifica, a used Chrysler 200 or a Nissan Altima from the 2013 to 2020 run, and instead targeting models with stronger reliability records and simpler hardware.
To put this into practice, talk directly to local technicians about which vehicles they see most often, cross-check their impressions with large-scale reliability surveys and pay attention when multiple sources flag the same models. When experts like Jul and other seasoned mechanics repeatedly warn that certain cars, from The Pacifica Hybrid to high-end SUVs like The Land Rover Discovery, are frequent visitors to the service bay, they are handing you a shortcut to lower stress and lower ownership costs. By listening to those warnings and adjusting your shopping list accordingly, you give yourself a far better chance of owning a car that spends its life on the road instead of on a lift.
More from Wilder Media Group: