Home Cars 20 Things Ford Did Horribly Wrong With The New Bronco
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20 Things Ford Did Horribly Wrong With The New Bronco

Cameron Eittreim September 15, 2021

The Ford Bronco is one of the most iconic sport utility vehicles ever made. It’s up there with the Jeep Wrangler and the Hummer. So when Ford discontinued it in 1996, there were many car enthusiasts disappointed.

Ford reintroduced the Bronco to much fanfare in 2020, and the response has been overwhelming. But there are many problems with the new Bronco that are hard to overlook. We looked at 20 things where Ford went wrong with the new full-size Bronco and its Sport counterpart.

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20: No V8 Option

It should go without saying that the full-size Bronco is a disappointment without a more powerful V8 engine. One of the perks to driving the original was the burly growl of the V8 engine that drivers appreciate. Ford slowly moved away from V8 powerplants in full-size trucks and SUVs, so it’s easy to understand why the V8 is not there. But with Jeep offering a powerful V8 engine in the Wrangler, the Bronco has some real competition.

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The Bronco is an SUV that almost needs a V8 engine for its identity (via Motor 1). Without the V8 powerplant, the full-size model doesn’t feel the same. There are few full-size SUV models that have come and gone, and the Bronco is the most iconic. Ford needs to listen to consumer demand and bring us a V8 powerplant already.

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19: A Limited Manual Transmission Choice

Another drawback to the full-size model is the lack of manual transmission. Yes, you can get a manual, but it’s only on one trim. The basic Sasquatch trim is the only way to get a stick shift. So for those consumers who want a fully-loaded Bronco with a manual, it won’t happen. Ford alienated a portion of their consumer base who would be going for this combination. A real off-road SUV traditionally has a stick shift (via Road & Track).

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The original full-size models were famous for the stick shift and V8 combination. It’s almost like a rite of passage to have a Bronco with this combo. It will be interesting to see if Ford adds a stick shift to the other trim packages. A lack of a manual transmission in the full-size model is a disappointment, to say the least.

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18: Splitting The Brand

Instead of focusing on the traditional full-size models, Ford brought the Bronco Sport. While a compact SUV is nice, many enthusiasts honestly only wanted a full-size offering. The Bronco is iconic, and since the O.J. Simpson chase, many drivers wanted one. The Sport trim is nothing more than a clone of the Jeep Wrangler (via Motor Trend). Many design elements are similar, and you can tell Ford is trying to entice that same customer base.

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The Bronco Sport doesn’t have the same size or power as the full-size offering. Hardcore off-road enthusiasts won’t go for the Sport. There is also the lack of a V8 engine, a problem for the full-size offering. There are many crossover SUVs on the market, and the Sport doesn’t stand out enough to justify.

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17: Production Shortages

It has been widely documented the launch of the Ford Bronco has been marred by errors. For example, a shortage of computer chips impacted deliveries. There are dealerships with such a short supply, the Bronco has been marked up. One customer even paid over $100,000 just to get his hands on a new Bronco (via CNET). These kinds of price-gouging tactics are nothing new. A hot vehicle model will sell no matter what the price is.

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But to get Ford willingly letting the shortage of such a hot model happen doesn’t speak well. The Bronco has many enthusiasts waiting for a new one. Low inventory cannot be a factor with a popular model. When it comes to popular vehicle models, the Bronco is one of the most popular in history.

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16: No Engine Cover

When you pay such a high price for an SUV, fit and finish is a must. Yet the new Bronco is lacking in many departments. Some places where it is lacking are simple touches (via CNET). These include the lack of an engine cover, a common item on most new cars. Insufficient quality that the full-sized Bronco has is disastrous for Ford. The company doesn’t need another serious incident like the Explorer fiasco of the early 2000s.

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The new Bronco is such a popular SUV with such high demand. For a company to botch this type of launch obviously isn’t a good thing. The Bronco has tough competition in the Jeep Wrangler. Chrysler isn’t about to let the Jeep brand get threatened by a competitor. The Wrangler will come out swinging with a bunch of new options.

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15: Hardtop Quality Issues

New Ford Bronco owners have been upset with most of what the new SUV offers. There is insufficient quality with this Bronco that you can’t miss (via Car & Driver), down to the lack of an engine cover. Unfortunately, the hardtop design is also a problem. Owners reported damage to the hardtop after buying the new Bronco. When you spend the money on a new Bronco is, a faulty roof isn’t what a driver wants.

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The MIC hardtop in particular has shown honeycomb patterns after new owners took delivery. There is no soft-top option for the full-size Bronco, which leaves owners choosing between one of these faulty roofs. No matter what roof you might have chosen, nothing is worse than coming outside to that.

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14: A Defective Rear Suspension

Ford has had its fair share of quality problems with the Bronco Sport. The vehicle was rushed into production in the middle of a pandemic. With an outpouring of demand for the new Bronco, there have been many issues popping up. Ford recently issued a recall for Bronco Sport models (via CNET). The recall focused on the rear suspension, with bolts that might not be fastened. There were over 1,000 Bronco Sport models involved in the recall.

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When it comes to the safety and driving a vehicle, the suspension is obviously important, especially given that most Bronco owners are going off-road. It merely shows the quality of the Bronco Sport was not the first priority. Instead, the company was attempting to compete with Jeep at a high level.

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13: Defective Lower Control Arms

The problems just kept mounting for the Bronco Sport. This time, the recall focused on defective lower control arms. Located in the front of the vehicle, the lower control arm is another important part. It’s amazing that Ford didn’t catch these problems at the factory. What sort of quality control might have been missing at the plant? These are inexcusable safety problems that could spell an even bigger long-term issue for Ford (via Freep).

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Do you trust the Bronco Sport? With such an outpouring of support by consumers, Ford needs to act swiftly. Quality issues that involve the suspension are some of the deadliest safety hazards. You wouldn’t want the wheels to fly off while driving? So Ford needs to fix these issues before it ends up like the Explorer fiasco in 2000.

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12: Overheating

You’d almost never expect a brand-new vehicle to overheat, right? Well, that isn’t the case with the new Ford Bronco Sport. There are a few automotive journalists who found out that the Outer Banks model could overheat. Upon rigorous testing, the 4WD module displayed the message “4WD Drive Temporarily Disabled”. Unlike the Badlands model, the Outer Banks model lacks the liquid-cooled transfer case (via Ford Authority).

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This begs the question, did Ford quality test every trim package? Or did the engineers simply push the model into the production cycle? Ford Bronco owners will go off-road at least once or twice. If it’s driving in hot conditions, no one wants to get stuck. The fact that the Bronco Sport could potentially overheat is a major issue.

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11: Two Recalls Already

Most value-conscious car buyers first research the reliability of a model. The Sport has already had two recalls. That isn’t a good indicator of what the future holds. There is an excellent chance owner of the Sport could be stuck with a lemon. The recall on the lower control arms and the rear-end are an imperfect indicator for the popular Ford model (via Kelly Blue Book).

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When an automaker issues a recall, you never want it to be within the first year of release. The extensive recalls that have plagued the Sport aren’t a good sign. Ford has suffered from quality issues for decades, and the Bronco is evidence of that problem. Time will tell if the Sport will suffer from more recalls in the future.

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10: Lack Of A Soft Top

One of the most popular options with the Jeep Wrangler is the soft top. But Ford doesn’t offer a soft-top option on the full-size edition. An entire generation of drivers who have been fantasizing about the Bronco were hoping for a soft-top option. The full-size edition has significant potential, but there are certain things missing. The design of the truck supports a soft-top option.

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With all the problems Ford has had with the top, it would be natural (via Motor Biscuit). There will be aftermarket tops for sale, but these could cost a fortune. Most buyers would rather get the top directly from Ford. Instead of dealing with an outside company that merely makes accessories. It will be interesting to see if Ford decides to add a soft-top to the mix in the future.

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9: Potential Maintenance Issues

Ford cut many corners with the new Bronco. There are many potential maintenance issues that will be arising for new owners. Take a peek under the hood, and you will get loose cables and wires. The struggling fuel lines are another long-term concern for any owner. If you own one long-term, these are all costly issues. The rough cylinder deactivation gives it troubling acceleration (via Consumer Reports).

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The four-cylinder engine option is a barebones power plant. From the design to the implementation, the fit and finish on the new Bronco is downright ridiculous. Ford had such a chance to do something positive with this vehicle. Insufficient quality that surrounds the thing is not reasonable when you consider the price tag.

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8: Floating Brake Calipers?

There’s no denying Ford cut corners on this. We see it daily with new recall notices. But honestly, what’s up with the floating brake calipers? The design of the brake system is troubling, to say the least. Ford could have done so much better with it. Taking it off road will be an exercise in futility (via Auto Blog).

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You would think that an SUV with the reputation of the Bronco would be better. The quality is below average, and features like this brake system are troubling. Most owners will probably have to upgrade the braking system for more intense off-roading. But for the average grocery-getter, the brake system should hopefully suffice.

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7: Too Much Gadgetry

Not only the Bronco, but most new cars are littered with tech. But for the Bronco enthusiast, significant tech isn’t important. What counts is being able to go off-roading. The fact that Ford packed so much tech into the new Bronco might be a turnoff for some people. Simply looking at the options, the Sasquatch package will be the most popular. The barebones design and slick forest green paint will appeal to enthusiasts (via Tech Crunch).

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Simplistic options, like the classic steel wheels, are a nice touch. As is the manual transmission, which you won’t find on other trim packages. Ford should have offered a barebones Bronco model for enthusiasts who wanted one. The Bronco has significant potential, but many things botched the launch.

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6: Limited Engine Options

We’ve discussed the lack of a V8 engine, but there are other engine issues with the Bronco. The 2.7 turbocharged V6 engine can only be paired with the 10-speed automatic. Enthusiasts had hoped for a manual transmission option across all engine choices. For an iconic SUV like the Bronco, not having a manual transmission is a real letdown (via Jack Demmer Ford).

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The V6 is an outstanding performing engine option, and it’d be nice to pair the engine with a manual. Unfortunately, Ford only offers the manual with the four-cylinder engine. That is a letdown for the enthusiast looking for more performance. Off-roading is tough, and the Bronco is up to the task with the right engine choice.

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5: Independent Front Suspension

While the Bronco is marketed as a go-anywhere design, the front suspension begs to differ. The independent front suspension is more geared for driving on the pavement. The designers might have done this due to the fact that most Broncos will never go off-road. The newest Bronco owners will keep the truck on the pavement (Road & Track).

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The independent front suspension is more than suitable for doing just that. Still, this was a bit of a letdown for off-road enthusiasts hoping for a bit more. Ford missed the mark by using this design for the suspension. The Bronco should be a dedicated off-road machine with a suspension to match.

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4: Non-Unique Design

The new Ford Bronco models have a problem. They don’t appear new or unique at all. The Bronco Sport models look like wannabe Jeep Wrangler clones. The full-size Bronco looks like a Toyota FJ Cruiser with a bunch of stuff added. The design is not unique, to say the least, and it seems like Ford got a bit lost on this one (via Motor Trend).

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The Bronco was supposed to have a retro-inspired design like the concept did. But instead, we got something that’s trying to appeal to a new generation of buyers. Ford should have gone back to the brand’s roots. Instead, the Bronco is lacking an identity in a crowded field of similar vehicles.

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3: No Authentic Exterior Colors

Take one look at the Ford Bronco and you are bound to encounter some wild colors. The Bronco is an attempt for Ford to take market share from Chrysler with their Jeep brand. Thus, the Bronco must stand out from the crowd. Traditional enthusiasts had hoped that some original Bronco paint colors would return. The all-white OJ model and the two-tone Eddie Bauer were both handsome SUVs (via Classic Broncos).

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Insufficient personality with the new Bronco is appalling considering the Bronco is one of the most iconic nameplates in the automotive industry. Insufficient personalization or thought on the part of Ford simply shows where the company’s head is at. The Bronco had so much potential to be excellent, and the brand can still be revived.

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2: No Bronco Pickup

With the release of the Jeep Gladiator, drivers thought Ford was going to make a Bronco truck. That wasn’t the case, and the idea for a Bronco truck was scrapped. The Bronco pickup truck would be different from anything else on the road. But that doesn’t mean it would be an unwelcome addition to the lineup. Bronco owners are ready for something new and unique.

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The Bronco truck could be that special piece of rejuvenation for the brand (via Car and Driver). A Bronco truck would have to compete with the Ford Maverick and the Ranger. That might be why Ford decided to top scrap the idea altogether. There is no point in creating more competition within the brand. Still, a Bronco pickup truck could have a potentially unique style, just like the Gladiator does.

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1: No Bronco Raptor

With all the hurrah that the Bronco had surrounding it, you’d also think there’d be a Raptor. But there wasn’t, and enthusiasts were left scratching their heads. The Bronco Raptor would be a welcomed addition to the lineup. If Ford put a V8 in the Raptor version, it would be an even more fun ride. With the new V8 powered Jeep, Ford has some serious competition coming out of Chrysler (via Auto Evolution).

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How will the Bronco compete? There’s a segment of consumers who are yearning for V8 power. The Bronco could benefit from a V8 powerplant exactly like the previous full-sized model. Without that, the Jeep might continue to take market share while the Bronco becomes a memory. Ford has done much wrong with the Bronco, but a V8 would fix some of those wrongs.

Home Cars Remembering The 25 Worst Chevrolet Cars Ever Made
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Remembering The 25 Worst Chevrolet Cars Ever Made

Cameron Eittreim September 13, 2021

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Chevrolet cars have always been the focal point of the GM brand’s portfolio. The brand was founded on November 3, 1911, in Detroit, Michigan. Chevrolet has sold many wildly successful cars and trucks over years, but there were also some huge blunders.

When seasoned drivers look back on the Vega, Chevette, or even the ‘the Dustbuster van,’ they know there was no shortage of questionable Chevrolet cars. We took a look back at the 25 worst Chevrolet cars GM ever made via The Motor Digest below. Warning, some of these Chevrolet cars and trucks may invoke some tragic memories for you.

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25: Lumina APV

Car design is relative and every designer has different tastes. In the 1990s, the minivan was a brand-new concept for vehicle designers to tackle. Chrysler certainly did it right with the Caravan and Voyager. Ford missed the mark with the Aerostar, and well, GM had the Lumina APV. The van got the unfortunate tag of a “Dustbuster” from the start (via Car Gurus). Taking one look at the thing, can you blame them? GM tapped the designer for a futuristic van, like the Chrysler Cab Forward design theme.

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Unfortunately, the Lumina APV was anything except cab forward. The van had hideous plastic body panels throughout the exterior of the van. The interior offered decent head and legroom, but at the sacrifice of style. Performance was not anything to sneeze at, but no one wanted to drive it. The Lumina was not a sales success in any stretch. GM would redesign the van in 1997 as the Venture.

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24: Chevrolet Cavalier

The hardest thing for GM was to move away from grandiose, V8-powered cars. The 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier was the first step in this direction. The minuscule compact car was designed with the idea of cheap transportation (via Hemmings). Unfortunately, what buyers got was cheap indeed. The 1982 Cavalier was indeed a small car, a stark departure from traditional GM design.

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Interior pieces were also cheaply made, and the car rattled like a soda can. Surprisingly enough, the Cavalier would become one of the best-selling Chevy models of all-time. That doesn’t mean the car was a success though. Insufficient quality hurt Chevrolet’s reputation in the compact segment.

Chevrolet Corvair via Motor Trend
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23: Chevrolet Corvair

GM sought out a new segment in 1960 dubbed “Thrift” cars, vehicles that would be more affordable than the average car. Instead of having to purchase a used car, a consumer could get a new one. It was a terrific idea if it was executed properly, yet it was not. The Corvair is one of the worst Chevy models of all-time (via Gold Eagle). It ‘featured’ a paltry Turbo Air six engine with 80 hp and a three-speed manual.

Chevrolet Corvair via Motor Trend
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It was also from around the time cars were made of steel. The critics labeled the Corvair unsafe, a mark it never recovered from. Insufficient performance in the Corvair marked a departure from traditional Chevy engineering. The interior also marked a decline in quality for Chevy, something customers weren’t forgiving of.

1986 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta via GM
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22: Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta

The third-generation Camaro redefined pony car design for the 1980s. The Camaro marked a new style that would resonate with a new generation of buyers. Then the Berlinetta hit the market, a luxury version of the Camaro (via LS1 Tech). General Motors sought to appeal to upmarket car shoppers, and they thought a luxury Camaro was the way. The Berlinetta featured an unusual dashboard and interior.

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GM focused the Berlinetta on the female car shopper, dubbed the “secretary’s car” by car critics. From a performance perspective, extra weight weighed down the Berlinetta and a lackluster engine choice. A luxury minded Camaro might not be the best choice when it comes to a performance car. GM wanted the Berlinetta to compete with the BMW 3-Series, but that didn’t happen.

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21: Chevrolet Monza

When the fuel embargo of the 1970s hit, consumer appetite for high-performance gas guzzlers depleted overnight. GM had to act quickly to bring new fuel efficient car models to the market. The Monza design was based on the Vega, and the resemblance is uncanny. The Camaro of the time influenced the rear taillights (via EP Auto). The 2+2 design was smart in theory, but the rear passenger leg room is non-existent. Cargo space was nonexistent in the Monza even though it had a hatchback.

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Critics universally pan the Monza whenever a history of Chevrolet cars is brought up. There were other awful cars from this era including the Ford Pinto, but the Monza took the top prize. GM would spend decades trying to perfect the compact car, only to exit the passenger car market in the 2020s.

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20: Chevrolet Citation

With a nameplate like the Citation, it’s a wonder that this nameplate failed. In a mad dash to bring compact cars to the market, GM brought consumers the Citation. It was a four-door hatchback reminiscent of similar Japanese models. Unfortunately, it didn’t feature the precision Japanese engineering or reliability (via Ebay Motors). The Citation had notoriously poor build quality from the interior outward.

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Interior rattling and broken knobs and dials were not uncommon. Performance-wise, the Citation had lethargic acceleration. The handling also lacked any type of feedback or response. A rough ride made things worse, and exterior noise was at an all-time high. All in all, the Citation was about the cheapest and lowest quality Chevrolet compact you could get.

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19: 1978 Chevrolet C/K Diesel

Today, the GM diesel is one of the most popular pickup truck engines. But back in the ’70s, it was a different story. With all the fuel and emission regulations, the diesel engine in the 1978 model was a travesty (via Diesel Place). The main problem was the reliability of the engine. Consumers generally use large pickup trucks for farm work, but the C/K diesel was constantly in the shop.

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The anemic performance only clouded things even further. GM would eventually go to Duramax for their diesel engines, but not before years of unreliable designs had already failed. The C/K redefined styling with a boxy modern style. The ride quality and interior comfort were also at the top of the class. But none of that matters if the truck is not reliable.

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18: Chevrolet Venture

Who could forget the Chevy Venture? Probably everyone, unless you grew up with a Venture in your family. The Venture and its corporate cousin, the Trans Sport, got the worst IIHS crash test in history (via Money Inc.). With the lackluster crash test in tow, the Venture went on until 2004, when the Chevy Uplander replaced it. There was nothing remotely reliable about the Venture, which is why the Caravan outpaced it in sales.

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Chevrolet never had good luck marketing a successful minivan. The Venture did have a unique package called the “WB” edition. The trim line was designed in partnership with Warner Brothers and had a leather interior and DVD video player. A DVD player isn’t enough to sell minivans, and the Venture was a dramatic flop.

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17: Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34

Dubbed the “Lumina Coupe”, the 1990s version of the Monte Carlo was less than breathtaking. The first change for the car was a lack of a V8 engine choice. The second change was basically a Lumina coupe. Buyers responded with mixed emotions to the car. While sales were decent, it was nothing jaw-dropping. Reliability was a large problem with this generation of the Monte Carlo (via Repair Pal).

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Interior quality also fell short on this generation of the GM sedan. The interior was panned for bland styling, and the over-cushioned seats were strange for a two-door coupe. Even in the Z34 trim, there was no denying what the Monte Carlo was. Many buyers were turned off and went for alternative models as a result.

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16: Chevrolet Tahoe 6.5L Diesel

In the 1990s, the Tahoe with the 6.5L diesel engine was a dream for many Chevrolet enthusiasts. The problem came with reliability, which was noticeably absent. The 6.5L diesel is well-documented for having many design flaws, from cracked heads to worse (via 6.5TurboGarage). Apart from its diesel reliability issues, this generation of the Tahoe had several flaws in general.

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Interior quality in all GM trucks from the 1990s was lackluster at best. Door handles cracked and button fading is even more common. You’ll also run into problems like leather seats cracking along the sides. GM made millions by selling these trucks, but the interior quality and engine reliability would never lend you to believe that. For many Chevy fans, having a Tahoe with a diesel engine may have been a dream, but this generation is a nightmare.

Chevrolet Vega GT
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15: Chevrolet Vega

Ford had a disastrous time selling the Pinto, and across the way, GM had exactly as incapable of a time with the Vega. Interior quality for the Vega was awful. But aside from that, there was worse (via Macs Motor). The reliability of the Vega was almost laughable. These things would break down a ton and repairs were problematic. Gas mileage was the mission of the Vega, in exchange for lackluster performance.

Chevrolet Vega GT
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The Vega is also prone to frame and body rust, a problem many cars from the same era faced. Vega owners looking for cheap transportation got more than they could chew with this lemon. Sales of the Vega were poor, and the car was eventually replaced by a new model. Chevy suffered from many terrible car designs in the years that ensued. The brand never did get the compact car all the way right, unlike how its foreign rivals did.

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14: Chevrolet Chevette

No, the Chevette isn’t a Corvette. The Chevette was another attempt at a profitable small car from GM. The end result is it was lacking in many of the same areas as the Vega. Interior quality was below normal expectations for a new car (via The Truth About Cars). Drivers often reported dials falling off, rattling, and worse. When you buy a new car, you don’t expect to put up with these kinds of issues.

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Then you had the lethargic performance of the Chevette. The car didn’t live up to expectations. Drivers were looking for some type of performance, at least being able to merge onto the highway. The Chevette let drivers down in almost every area of its design. Looking back on the Chevette, it’s hard to imagine where GM went with this car.

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13: Chevrolet SSR

Enthusiasts have hoped for a revival of the El Camino for decades. Chevrolet teased a revival with the SSR, which had a similar design. Sadly, the SSR’s production model fell short in many areas. The styling, while like the El Camino, was a far cry from the car of the past. The truck bed on the SSR was almost worthless due to its bed cover (via The Truth About Cars). Then the styling with the bubble front clip looked like a roadster lost.

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We’re not sure what GM was going for with the styling of the SSR. Its performance was alright thanks to the V8 powerplant, but from a practicality standpoint, the SSR fell short. Maybe something with a Camaro-themed styling might have proved to be a more popular option. GM had many weird designs coming out around the same time as the SSR. Most enthusiasts took a pass on the SSR, especially with its high price tag.

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12: Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke

Another Camaro to grace this list is the Iron Duke. What exactly was the Iron Duke you might ask? Well, after the fuel prices had gone through the roof, GM decided to sell a Camaro with a four-cylinder engine (via Auto Blog). By today’s standards, that isn’t a bad thing but in the 1980s it was unheard of. The Iron Duke did horribly, not only because buyers didn’t want it, but also because of a lack of power and reliability.

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The Iron Duke was dubbed one of the worst Chevrolet engines of all time. Then you throw it in a legendary car like the Camaro and the reputation was tarnished. Ford had their own fair share of problems with four-cylinder power. But the Iron Duke was a downright awful choice to put inside of a pony car like the Camaro.

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11: Chevrolet Nova (Corolla)

GM and Chrysler were both friendly with Japanese automakers in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Chrysler had a partnership with Mitsubishi, dubbed Diamond Star Motors, and GM had a relationship with Suzuki and Toyota (via Car Bibles). The Toyota partnership produced an unusually small car called the Nova. Taking the nameplate from the Nova of the past, GM brought us their own version of the Corolla.

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The car was criticized for defecating on a legendary name like the Nova. Although it was the usual high-quality Toyota product, critics still panned the small car. Instead of keeping the excellent Toyota radio deck, GM swapped it with a Delco unit. On top of that, the service department at GM was not as keen on repairing the Nova as an actual Toyota dealership.

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10: 1975-1980 Chevrolet Corvette

American automakers were having a tough time adjusting to new emissions regulations in the late ’70s. The Corvette, once a focal point of performance, suffered from these unfortunate changes (via Edmunds). For five years, the Corvette felt like it was being choked out. The 5.7-liter small-block V8 made a measly 250 hp. That was small potatoes compared to other sports cars at the time or even previous Corvette models.

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It ultimately took several years for the brand to recover from these changes. As it stands, the 1975-80 models are some of drivers’ least favorite. Insufficient performance is a real turnoff for most potential buyers. Even restoration can be expensive, and adding a modern engine will be even more.

Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
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9: 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

After a decade of selling a less-than-satisfactory Monte Carlo, Chevy introduced a V8 model again. A slight redesign of the 2000-05 model, the newly-minted Monte Carlo was ready to play with the big boys (via Top Speed). Unfortunately, this was during a transitional period for GM,as well as the impending recession.

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The Monte Carlo was lacking in the style department with a soft-looking front fascia shared with the Impala. There was a noticeably absent manual transmission option. The V8 engine itself was seemingly powerful enough for daily driving, but nothing sensational. GM missed the mark with the final generation of the Monte Carlo. The car could have been something special, but instead was lacking in many departments.

Beretta
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8: Chevy Beretta

GM did much research and development in the 1990s as it sought to replace the Camaro. The Beretta was the car the company launched to do this (via Best Ride). They even went as far as using the Beretta as the platform for NASCAR racing. But the Beretta didn’t exactly enlighten consumers. The car lacked any of unique styling and performance was subpar at best.

Chevy Beretta
Photo Credit: GM

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There was the fact that the Beretta shared much of its underpinnings with cheaper GM cars at the time. The celebrity and Corsica come to mind when you think of the Beretta. There was nothing remotely special about the Beretta, and it was quickly shelved. The Camaro lived on until the 2002 model year when it was discontinued, only to return in 2010.

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7: Chevy Corsica

The Corsica is the most basic car ever made. During the later part of the 1990s, you’d see the Corsica at every car rental place there was. The quality was lacking in almost every department (via Motor Biscuit). The Corsica drove like a soda can on wheels, with rattling parts both inside and out. Reliability was uncertain at best, with all sorts of repairs commonplace.

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The Corsica was also one of the cheapest new cars sold in America. However, the cheap price only unfolded into many problems for new owners. When a cheap, unreliable car comes to mind, the Corsica is probably at the top. Chevy had a few duds in the 1990s, and the Corsica was one of them.

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6: HHR SS Panel Van

Taking a look at this minuscule monstrosity makes you realize why GM went into bankruptcy in the first place. What an odd and useless car the HHR SS panel van was (via Motor Biscuit). It’s almost like a rogue designer got loose with the authority to authorize a project. The HHR itself was the PT Cruiser a full eight years too late. Couple that with the obscure and useless design of a miniature panel van, and you have what we have here.

Photo Credit: GM

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The HHR SS Panel Van didn’t offer anything sensational in terms of performance. Why GM would even put it on the market is beyond us. Car shoppers around this time were more concerned with fuel economy than a unique panel van. Had the HHR hit the market an entire decade before, GM might have had a hit on their hands.

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5: Chevrolet Caprice (2010-2017)

If there is one nameplate consumers yearn to revive, it’s the Caprice. Chevy’s full-size sedan offering had a loyal following. The Caprice PPV that hit the market in 2010 was not sold directly to consumers (via Auto Trader). The captive import from Australia was sold to police departments, and the car was based on the Pontiac G8.

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The styling was lackluster and performance wasn’t breathtaking like enthusiasts had hoped for. Chevy sort of threw the Caprice nameplate in the wind with this generation. The former Caprice model used to have personality, the new one didn’t have any. In fact, it had that “generic” Chevy feeling that the brand had in the 2000s. Sadly, the Caprice was not the hit that GM had hoped for, and it was phased out with the Chevy SS in 2017.

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4: Chevy Aveo

After the Chevy Metro was phased out in 2001, the brand needed a subcompact car. The Aveo was brought into the mix and was based on a Daewoo model. The car advertised having a stellar interior room in a small package (via The Truth About Cars). That wasn’t entirely true, and the Aveo didn’t sell in the numbers the brand had hoped for. Reliability was questionable, as were initial safety ratings for the small car.

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The Aveo would stay in existence for a while, ultimately being phased out with the Sonic. But when it comes to forgettable compact cars, the Aveo was about as forgettable as you can think of. There were much better models, including the Honda Fit. Chevrolet has since abandoned the compact car segment altogether as GM moves toward crossover vehicles.

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3: Chevy Volt

Elon Musk sprang new life into the electric car segment when Tesla became more successful than any other electric automaker. Naturally, GM was passed up due to incompetence when the company abandoned the EV1. The Volt was an attempt to take Tesla’s market share (via Shift). Sadly, car shoppers didn’t resonate with the bubble-shaped Chevy model. Ultimately, there’s more to an electric car than simply being electric.

Photo Credit: GM

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Chevy missed the memo when it came to styling and versatility. The fact that the Volt was partly gas-powered meant you still had to deal with the maintenance issues of gas-powered cars. The Volt was a costly failure for General Motors and the Chevrolet brand. Now, GM is working on new and more advanced electric car technology.

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2: Chevy Silverado Hybrid

The folks at GM needed a way to sell more trucks, but customers were getting frustrated with the gas mileage. The Silverado Hybrid came along to change things up a bit. Unfortunately, the hybrid drivetrain used in the truck didn’t improve the mileage all that much (via (GM Authority). The Silverado Hybrid didn’t get much better gas mileage than the ordinary model. That meant buyers paid a premium for some hybrid badging, and that’s about it.

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The Silverado Hybrid didn’t last long before it was phased out altogether. Consumers were not buying the quickly thrown together hybrid product. The Silverado Hybrid was not the dream truck many environmentalists had hoped for. You will seldom see a Silverado Hybrid on the road today. The awkward truck model didn’t sell well, and consumers weren’t sold on it.

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1: Chevy Tahoe Hybrid

Another failed attempt at a supersized hybrid was the Tahoe Hybrid. The Tahoe Hybrid hit the market in the midst of the economic recession of 2008. Consumers weren’t looking for gas-guzzling vehicles anymore, and it put a dent in GM’s business (via Car and Driver). The company had to act quickly, and thus the Tahoe Hybrid hit the market. Aside from the abundance of Hybrid badging, there wasn’t a ton of actual improvement.

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The gas mileage was not that much better than the regular Tahoe. But the cost was thousands more, and the truck was limited. The body kits and insufficient off-road capability limited the Tahoe Hybrid to pavement duty. Sales numbers for the Tahoe Hybrid were lackluster at best, and the SUV was ultimately a failure.

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