I Asked ChatGPT Which Used Cars To Stay Away From Buying: Here’s What It Said

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I’m in the market for a new-to-me used car. I want my next car to have good gas mileage and be in my price range, but other than that, I wasn’t sure what I wanted. So I turned to ChatGPT for guidance.

ChatGPT has a reputation of being overly positive, but I was hoping it could dish out some criticism that could help me eliminate some models from my search. I decided to start with the question, “Which used car models should I stay away from buying?” Here’s what it said, and what car I ended up shopping for. 

Also see which car brand has the most reliable vehicles, according to ChatGPT.

A Long List of Cars To Avoid

To start, ChatGPT provided a lot of cars to stay away from. For luxury brands, it said any BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz or Volkswagen models were going to have “high maintenance costs and complex systems.” Land Rovers and Volvos were also a no due to “frequent electrical issues, suspension failures and pricey upkeep.” 

It then listed “models with notable reliability problems,” which included Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler (all for “chronic electrical faults and transmission problems”), as well as Ford Explorers for “timing chain and transmission failures in many model years.”

But that’s not where its list ended.

Cars With Recurring Issues

ChatGPT highlighted some specific models that it said had recurring issues.

• Chevrolet Cruze, Malibu, Tahoe, Suburban: It cited engine and transmission failures, as well as electrical problems
• Nissan Altima, Pathfinder, any continuously variable transmission (CVT) models: ChatGPT said these are known CVT failures. If it has CVT, approach with caution.
• Ford Escape (including Hybrid): These models have engine, brake and transmission concerns.
• Hyundai Kona Electric, Tucson (older models): It cited battery, charging and engine/transmission issues in these models.

ChatGPT then said to avoid minivans and SUVs with histories of recalls, including the Chrysler Pacifica 200, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey and Ford Bronco Sport. 

Electric and Hybrid Cars

Next, it turned its attention to electric and hybrid vehicles.

It specifically called out first-generation electric vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf. It noted that aging batteries can drop capacity quickly and are costly to replace.

It also cited pricey repairs and parts delays for the Tesla Model 3, Model S/X (2019-2021) and Rivian R1T.

What Cars Are Worth Purchasing?

This was a lot of cars not to buy, so I was grateful when, within the same answer, it gave me a list of cars that would be good to purchase. “Consider reliable alternatives like Toyota (Camry, Corolla, Tacoma) and Honda (Civic, CR-V).” it said.

I was looking for a sedan, so I asked ChatGPT this question: “Between the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, which one should I buy?” It listed pros and cons for each vehicle, and then had a “final verdict” section, which broke down everything at a glance.

• Best all-around sedan: Honda Civic (fun, fuel-efficient, reliable)
• Best for comfort and power: Toyota Camry
• Best on a tight budget: Toyota Corolla
• If you’re tall, frequently drive with passengers or value highway comfort: Toyota Camry
• If you just need something reliable, affordable and efficient: Toyota Corolla
• If you enjoy driving and want a bit more flair: Honda Civic

ChatGPT helped provide an overview of less reliable models and provide pros and cons for recommended vehicles. Because I wanted something fuel-efficient, I’ve decided the Honda Civic is the car I want to look for, but your choice could depend on your own specific needs and wants.

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