2025 should’ve been the year we left bad cars behind.
But instead, it handed us a handful of vehicles so problematic, so poorly executed, they’ve made seasoned mechanics say, “Oh no… not another one of those.”
Let’s break down the 5 worst cars of the year.
1. Cadillac Lyriq: Luxury EV?
Imagine buying your first electric Cadillac — glossy paint, minimalist dashboard, futuristic hum as you drive away. For a minute, you feel like you made it.
Then reality hits:
- The charger blinks red.
- The screen freezes.
- The instrument cluster goes dark — yep, no speedometer.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The 2025 Cadillac Lyriq came in hot, promising to elevate GM into the Tesla-league. But instead, it’s become one of the most frustrating EVs on the road. From charging failures to software bugs and recalls galore, it’s not the car you show off — it’s the car you apologize for.
Cadillac had the chance to redefine American electric luxury.
Instead, it delivered a $60K science experiment with a “Check Engine” light always ready to party.
2. Dodge Hornet
You know when someone tries way too hard to be cool? That’s the 2025 Dodge Hornet.
From a distance, it looks okay. Sporty stance. Sharp lights. But get closer and you’ll notice:
- A design that feels stitched together from leftover Alfa Romeo parts
- Cheap-feeling plastic everywhere
- Electrical gremlins that show up uninvited
Some Hornet owners barely made it home from the dealership before the battery died or the dashboard lit up like a slot machine. One guy brought his in three times in under a year — and not for oil changes.
There’s even a growing trend: “Hornet won’t start after sitting for a weekend.” That’s not a quirk. That’s a broken promise.
Bottom line: If Dodge wanted to sting the competition, they missed. Badly.
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep fans won’t want to hear this… but you need to hear it.
The 2025 Grand Cherokee might look like the SUV you grew up trusting — sturdy, roomy, ready for anything — but under the hood?
It’s hiding a full-blown crisis.
We’re talking:
- Transmission bugs
- Infotainment crashes
- Driver-assist tech that sometimes forgets it’s supposed to assist
- Cold-weather issues that make Canadians cry
Jeep dealerships are offering $12,000 off some models. And you know the rule: if something’s being sold that cheap, it’s not out of kindness. It’s a warning sign dressed up as a deal.
Worse still, the plug-in hybrid 4xe version was supposed to be Jeep’s green evolution. Instead, owners call it “garbage.” That’s a direct quote.
If your Jeep breaks down before the mud even dries, what’s the point?
4. Rivian R1T: Cool Until It Isn’t
This one hurts.
The Rivian R1T had so much potential.
It’s an EV truck that looks like it belongs on Mars — in the best way. It’s fast. It’s sleek. It’s… unreliable as hell.
Rivian ranked dead last in 2025 reliability data. Last.
Behind companies that don’t even try anymore.
The R1T has suffered:
- Bricked infotainment screens
- Sudden system failures
- Recall after recall (headlights, suspension bolts, steering — take your pick)
- Build quality that feels “start-up unfinished,” like someone forgot to tighten the bolts
And if it breaks? Good luck. Rivian’s service network is still patchy at best. Some owners wait weeks or months for parts or fixes.
So yeah, it’s fun when it works. But when it doesn’t? It’s a $75,000 paperweight.
5. Range Rover (All of Them)
You ever fall in love with someone so bad for you, your friends just stop trying to intervene?
That’s the Range Rover.
These SUVs are stunning. They glide. They flex luxury.
But no matter how new, how fancy, or how high the trim level…
They. Break. Down. Constantly.
Ask any mechanic and they’ll tell you: “Oh yeah… another Range Rover in the shop.”
From:
- Leaking sunroofs
- Air suspension failures
- Engine misfires
- Infotainment ghosts
- To dashboards that go full blackout mid-drive
…it’s a never-ending cycle of problems. One owner’s 2023 model misfired in 3 cylinders out of 6. That’s… almost impressive?
And it’s not just a bad year. Land Rover consistently ranks at the bottom of every reliability study. Every. Single. Time.
Buying one is like dating a model who steals your wallet and crashes your car.
You’ll feel fancy for a while… until the bills hit.
Here’s the Ugly Truth
It’s tempting to get pulled in by looks, tech, and performance numbers.
But the five cars on this list prove that none of that matters if the thing doesn’t work when you need it most.
So here’s the checklist going into 2026:
- Don’t assume a premium badge means a premium experience
- Look for proven reliability before clever gimmicks
- And if a car is sitting on the lot with $10K off — ask yourself why it’s still there
Because behind every glowing commercial and influencer test drive is a real owner… possibly stranded on the side of the road, wondering what went wrong.