15. Cadillac L62 Engine
Back in the early ’80s when fuel efficiency and cost savings were the most sought-after imperatives in the car game, auto manufacturers were experimenting with various different engines and drivetrain options. So Cadillac decided to install a fancy electronic cylinder deactivation system on their gasoline V8s. That meant when cruising around town, the car will use only four cylinders. The car would deactivate the rest electronically.

That stopped the fuel delivery and shut down the spark plugs. When the driver needed more power, the car would activate two more cylinders, making the engine a V6. Then when the throttle was pushed to the end, all eight cylinders would fire right up and deliver full power. However, as soon they delivered the first engine, the problems started. Simply, the electronic system was terribly unreliable, so the engine tended to get stuck in one mode, and most often as a four-cylinder.