Fatal Flaws: Top 30 Dangerous Cars On The Road

Cameron Eittreim October 24, 2019

4. Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon

The Colorado was the successor to the S-10 pickup truck that GM produced for decades. While the Colorado wasn’t a bad truck by any means, there were quite a few recalls that were cause for concern. First and foremost, the Colorado was part of the famous ignition switch recall in which the GM vehicles would completely shut themselves down when the vehicle is in motion. Secondly, the five-cylinder Colorado had a notable defect that had to do with the intake manifold gasket disintegrating. This defect would cause complete engine failure and loss of power.

The Colorado wasn’t a bad truck in terms of design, and it boasted a nice big cabin and plenty of seating. But the engine defects caused a safety concern that these trucks still have to this day. Models from Toyota and Nissan are far more reliable and have taken most of the market share from this generation of the Colorado. GM has since released a new version of the Colorado to make up for most of these trucks’ shortcomings. Still, if you happen to see one of these Colorado models on the used car market, it’s best left avoided.

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3. 2014 Porsche 911 GT3

Porsche has come a long way in recent years, and the 911 GT3 is a testament to that. What bolds as a fun-to-drive sports car with impressive handling also had a short-term failure. The GT3 was prone to engine fires, and lots of them. So much so that Porsche had to recall these vehicles to try and rectify the problem. Porsche owners were understandably upset when their expensive sports cars were bursting into flames. The issue seemed to stem from the same issue as the Fiero, which is ironic considering the two cars are 30 years apart.

Still, the 911 GT3 is perhaps one of the best performance cars on the market. You just can’t go wrong with the rear-wheel drive and rear-engine sports car. Porsche has made a name for themselves with this design, and the 911 carries on the tradition. No matter what the faults of the GT3, the vehicle is still drop-dead gorgeous and offers a unique look into one of the most precision-built sports cars of all time. If you’ve always wanted a Porsche and the GT3 is on the horizon, just make sure to remember what the engine faults are with these.

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2. Isuzu Trooper

Another infamous SUV of the 1990s, the Trooper was selling like hotcakes until a Consumer Reports article came out. The Trooper was another top-heavy SUV that also suffered from enhanced vehicle rollovers. The problem was exacerbated by a lack of safety features in earlier Trooper models, at which point Isuzu added certain features such as a passenger airbag and upgraded restraint systems. When it comes to iconic SUV models, the Trooper set the bar for the family SUV we see today.

But after the rollover study, the sales of the Trooper never fully recovered. The model was initially available in two options, one of which was a two-door. In the later years, the Trooper was also sold as the Acura SLX. If you notice a resemblance, it was because both models were the same vehicle underneath. The Trooper still managed to gain a cult-like following and the SUV has since increased in popularity as an aftermarket off-road car. Still, the roll-over issue put a lot of fear in potential Trooper buyers and hurt Isuzu’s credibility in the US market.

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1. Smart Fortwo

This entry should be of no surprise, as the Smart Fortwo is a seriously tiny car. The Smart Fortwo did so bad in the initial crash testing that the vehicle would spin around in the air before finally landing. When it comes to a practical application for this car, it’s only meant for urban driving. If you live in a big city where parking is scarce, the Smart Fortwo is a decent vehicle. But if you commute on a freeway everyday, the Smart Fortwo is like taking a risk every time you hit the on-ramp.

The Smart Fortwo does have some pretty good safety features such as front and rear airbags, but none of this will do you any good due to the fact that the vehicle is so small. What’s hard to believe is that there’s a vehicle even smaller than the Smart Fortwo, and that’s the Smart EQ. The appetite for these tiny cars seems to be diminishing with the rise of crossover vehicles. You’ll still see a good deal of Smart Fortwos in urban cities such as San Francisco, but otherwise, this little gem is best left avoided.

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Fatal Flaws: Top 30 Dangerous Cars On The Road

4. Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon

3. 2014 Porsche 911 GT3

2. Isuzu Trooper

1. Smart Fortwo

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