Cheap used cars were once a major focal point of the auto industry. That was true until new cars became more affordable. Automotive styling came a long way in the 1990s and even further in the 2000s. Cars and trucks were more aerodynamic and attractive to look at. The boxy, heavy vehicles of previous decades were a thing of the past. But the problem with cars that looked great was often in their reliability.
The build quality of otherwise good-looking cars such as the Oldsmobile Aurora was not good at all. These cars were often recalled. There were many cars from the past few decades that were cheap to buy, but the ownership experience was less than satisfactory. We looked at cheap cars that fooled drivers in the past and why they should be avoided at all costs.
Chrysler Pacifica
The Pacifica was one of the first crossover SUVs. It was released to the public long before the crossover was even a popular segment. The Pacifica was a gamble for Chrysler and seemingly paid off. The car had good sales numbers for the first couple of years until the lackluster reliability crept up on owners (via Hot Cars).
The most notable problem with the Pacifica was transmission failure. Chrysler transmissions from that period weren’t the best. Coupled with the fact that the Pacifica shared engineering with Daimler models, the cost of diagnosis and repairs was high. The Pacifica was an attractive, well-appointed car for the price, but it should be avoided nonetheless.