I’d like to keep away from ‘problems with used cars’, so let’s keep this thread about cars that you or an immediate family member bought new.
I’ve only bought one new car, a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport. Problems:
[ul][li]Computer module failed and caused transmission not to shift into 4th gear, replaced under warranty[/li][li]Vacuum hose became disconnected lighting the ‘check engine’ annunciator, re-attached under warranty[/li][li]A servo or something in the air vent failed. When I switched from ‘defrost’ to ‘vent’ or from ‘a/c’ to ‘vent’ (or vice versa) it wouldn’t do it. The fan got noisier and noisier as the air pressure built up in the system. This failed twice! and was repaired under warranty[/li][li]Last year my passenger-side front window failed. Obviously that was not replaced under warranty. Cost $200 for the part and another $200 for labour.[/ul][/li]
My dad had a 1972 Toyota Corona Mk.II wagon. No problems in the two years he owned it (except that someone hit him from behind and bent the fuel filler pipe, making it difficult to refuel) until he went looking for a downed aircraft in a sandstorm and got sand into the engine.
He also had a 1974 Toyota Hi-Lux pickup. It had something called a ‘stove’ in the carburettor that needed to be replaced every 15,000 or 20,000 miles. Bad design. (This one was destroyed in a head-on collision, which also destroyed my knees.)
We got a 2005 Corolla a little over a year ago. Absolutely no problems, so far. I had them replace the wipers at the last maintenance visit because they were leaving a bit too much water behind in a couple of spots, but that’s it.
I’ve also only owned one car that I bought new. My 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage had a couple of issues within the first few years: I had to replace the driver’s-side window mechanism (and people worry about automatic windows breaking down!), and had to replace the latch on the glove box. I also had problems with the driver’s-side … um … I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s almost like a running board (only it’s inside the car). Whatever it’s called, it kept falling off, so I finally just stuck it in the trunk.
Mechanically the Mirage was pretty sound, but the interior materials were very cheap and it showed.
Last year, we bought a new Neon special model with some goodies they don’t offer on the regular ones. No problems yet. Just having a car that does what it’s supposed to has saved us at least three grand this year in repairs we would have had to make to the previous car, what with it eating alternators for lunch, A/C compressor dying, transmission dying without notice, etc.
2002 Corvette (Convertible):
[ol]
[li]Intermittent loss of Active Handling/ABS/Traction Control. “Repaired” twice under warranty, still a problem when I traded it in.[/li][li]Rear differential leak. Repaired under warranty.[/li][li]Steering locked up. Repaired under warranty. Evidently, was part of a recall I wasn’t told about.[/li][/ol]
2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab:
The invoice says the truck has a 34-gallon fuel tank. It’s more like 25. Need to go back to the dealer on that one.
1994 Mazda MPV
[ul]Lifter noise at 7500 “Repaired”
[li]Lifter noise at 10K again “Repaired”[/li][li]Lifter noise that showed up 2 days after every oil change “Repaired” they had the car for 3 day this time[/li][li]Water pump leak at 25K. Replaced under warranty.[/li][/ul]
It was still making lifter noises when we finally traded it for a 02 Durango which gave us zero problems.
2004 Saab Convertible - would every three days or so lock the steering column and ignition and give an error message on the display, telling me to contact the service center. This would lead to a call to Onstar and the garage and would be ‘fixed’ (the first time it was fixed they had it for two days, the final time it was fixed, they had it for a week). I was always set up with a rental car, although the time it died in the hospital parking lot after bringing my wife home from surgery left me REALLY peeved. Each time the car died was the same thing.
I was able to Lemon Law it and, after a minor fight with their legal dept. and a letter to the US President of Saab, they found me an exact replacement (and even threw in free xenon headlamps). The replacement has been pretty much flawless.
I’ve had two new Ford pickups (no problems) but you asked about cars.
I have a 1999 Toyota Camry, bought new. I’ve replaced the tires and something that affected the A/C – less than $100. I love this car. The Camry got bigger in 2000 (too big, IMHO), but this size is perfect.
That’s what you get for buying cheap cars! (Actually, that’s pretty impressive!)
So far, my 2004 Jeep Liberty has needed a couple of oil changes, and a set of wiper blades. When we got it from the dealer, the itty-bitty “treble” knob was missing from the radio, as was one of the caps for the off-road lights. Both were easily scavenged from another vehicle on the lot.
When it’s been in dusty areas, the right rear wheel gives a low ooook sort of squeak for a bit. Guessing it’s just dust under the brake pads as it goes away quickly.
1985 Dodge Omni: Had some misfiring problems which were eventually resolved on about the third trip to the dealer, then a long period of no-problem joy. New front wheel bearing at about 100K, then a blown head gasket and rebuilt engine at 150K, then a few carburetor problems (deteriorating float sending particles into the jets), developed water leak into interior, then sold it at about 235K (having driven it to the moon ). Replaced timing belts religiously at 60K intervals myself.
1989 Toyota Corolla: Three months, a noise in the heater fan, not repaired under warranty, since warranty doesn’t cover dead mice (ick ick ick). Then a long period of troublefreeness, then replaced tailpipe and muffler at maybe 130K, the replaced again at maybe 170K, then sold it. Replaced timing belts at 60K intervals (done by dealer).
2003 Suzuki Aerio sedan: Clicking noise in brakes, repaired under warranty; buzzing rattle in rear door, dealer and me both unable to fix; short-lived remote transmitters (2), replaced under warranty; clock dimming function inoperative, repaired under warranty. No timing belt to replace (hallelujah!).
2003 Suzuki Aerio SX hatchback: Clicking brakes; clock dimming function inop, both repaired under warranty; collision with mnivan, repaired by insurance.
2003 Honda Element, bought 8/20/03:
Battery died in Jan '04, replaced under warranty, Honda even covered towing that they didn’t have to
Squeak in the rear, loose tailgate stop (?!) tightened during oil change, no charge
“Premature wear” in the rear brakes found during oil change, replaced free after waiting for parts.
I’ve been very very happy with this car and Honda service
1972 Chevy II had it 4 years. No problems bad enough to remember.
1976 Datsun F-10 It was only made for the one model year. Front wheel drive. It wouldn’t go into second gear if the outside temperature was below freezing.
1977 Datsun 280Z. Man, I loved that car. It tended to over-heat. Traded it when the “cancer” was so bad around the hatch, I was afraid a rough patch of road would make it crash in.
1986 Camero. Possessed by the devil himself. It has a starter glitch that began a week after I got it. The dealer was never able to diagnose it. The cruise control would start or stop spontanously whenever I passed a particular Microwave station. Dealer unable to diagnose. The rear end fell off while making a turn. Turned out to have been secured by only one bolt. The speedometer blew up. Yes, boom. black smoke, needles gone boom. Traded it after an unmanned car rolled into it in a flat parking lot.
1986 Mitsubishi Starion. Another car I loved. No problems except for the teenager who broadsided me, bending the frame and front axle.
1992 MR2 had a fuel injector problem in the first month. It was too small for my needs, so I had to trade it.
1992 Mitsubishi Sport (can’t remember the other sub-name My brother called it a micro-minivan) the steering wheel off-gassed a greasy feeling residue if the car was closed up in warm weather. It was hit in a low speed acccident (<25 MPH in the right rear quarter panel and rolled, totaled.
1992(was not a good year for me and cars. Luckily, a good money year) Toyota Celica convertible my third love. No issues whatever I sold it last year when we bought that used, hole-in-the road-to-pour-money-into, Corvette.
I have only bought one new car in my life: a 1983 Toyota pickup, and I never had a lick of trouble with it. It was a great little truck. I sold it at 150,000 miles for a bigger truck. HUGE mistake on my part.
1997 Dodge Caravan: Replaced the A/C evaporator at about 3.5 years old, to the tune of 900 bucks. Less than 3 years later, the condenser went bad, to the tune of 1200 bucks. Other Chrysler cars of the same era had “hidden warranties” for the condenser because it was such a widespread problem, but Caravans were explicitly excepted. Also the driver’s side passenger lock (power lock) jams pretty intermittently. It was doing that within a year of purchase but never did its trick for the dealer, so it’s never been fixed.
1982 (83?) Dodge Omni: Intermittently made a screeching sound when I tried to turn the engine on. The sound a car makes when it’s already running, and you absent-mindedly try to turn the key to the “ignite” position anyway. The frequency increased, until it did it nearly every time I tried to start the car. Never did this for the dealer so it didn’t get fixed under warranty. Bastards. FOrtunately, I’d purchased one of those extended service agreements so when it finally did do it in front of a mechanic, it got fixed for a nominal amount. Oh, and the clutch died when it was about 2 years old.
Hmmmmmm - I think I won’t be purchasing any more Dodge vehicles.
(Actually, that’s pretty impressive!)
). Replaced timing belts religiously at 60K intervals myself.
Dealer unable to diagnose. The rear end fell off while making a turn. Turned out to have been secured by only one bolt. The speedometer blew up. Yes, boom. black smoke, needles gone boom. Traded it after an unmanned car rolled into it in a flat parking lot.