5 Vehicles To Avoid If You're Looking For A Quality Experience

While modern automotive reliability has improved drastically across the board, consumer feedback continues to highlight vehicles that fall short of expectations. According to J.D. Power’s initial quality and reliability scores (rated out of 100), several new models still suffer from electrical glitches, powertrain hiccups, and active safety calibration issues.

Here are the 5 lowest-ranked vehicles for quality and reliability based on J.D. Power consumer ratings, ordered from the highest score among the group down to the worst offender:

5. 2026 Mazda CX-70

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 69/100 (Fair)
• NHTSA Complaints: 53 | Recalls: 4
• The Reality: Essentially a two-row variant of the CX-90 SUV, the CX-70 shares its sibling's inline-six and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. Owners have reported maneuverability struggles in tight spaces, cramped interior storage, and erratic lane-departure warning systems that try to steer out of lane on gentle curves. Powertrain complaints highlight jerky shifting and delayed throttle response, while recalls cover PHEV power loss and inaccurate fuel gauge readings.

4. 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 68/100 (Fair)
• NHTSA Complaints: 83 | Recalls: 3
• Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $730
• The Reality: Volkswagen's compact crossover faces stiff competition from the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but it struggles significantly on the dependability front. Drivers report rough engine performance, squishy braking feel, and forward-collision avoidance systems that phantom-brake without hazards present. Furthermore, its $730 average annual maintenance cost is notably higher than Japanese rivals.

3. 2026 Rivian R1S

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 67/100 (Fair)
• NHTSA Complaints: 166 | Recalls: 34
• Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost: Up to $623
• The Reality: The all-electric R1S offers impressive off-road capability, class-leading range, and a native NACS charging port, but its reliability record remains problematic. With 34 recalls logged over its life, reported issues range from windshield washer fluid leaks and failing regenerative braking to severe mechanical recalls involving toe-link separation and non-deploying passenger airbags.

2. 2026 Cadillac Lyriq

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 64/100 (Fair)
• NHTSA Complaints: 164 | Recalls: 17
• Average Brand Maintenance Cost: $783/year
• The Reality: As Cadillac's EV trailblazer, the Lyriq brings striking design and up to 615 horsepower in its performance trims, but early-adoption bugs persist. Most owner complaints focus on software and electrical bugs, including blank driver screens, faulty forward-collision sensors, and unexpected ABS activations causing sudden loss of braking pressure. Recalls have also covered improperly welded seatbelts and high-voltage battery harness faults.

1. 2026 Kia EV9

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 64/100 (Fair)
• NHTSA Complaints: 248 | Recalls: 10
• The Reality: Tied with the Lyriq for the lowest overall score on this list, Kia's bold three-row electric flagship has suffered significant launch teething issues. Owners have logged 248 NHTSA complaints covering suspension squeaks, infotainment glitches, battery thermal risks, and airbag sensor failures. Fortunately for buyers, Kia backs the EV9 with its standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty to help cushion long-term ownership concerns.

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