Lemon Series: So Many Complaints

Can you avoid a vehicle that turns into a lemon? You can with our Lemon Series. This week we take a look at vehicles from the 2020 model year that have the largest number of reported complaints. These complaints can certainly span the spectrum from a simple comfort issue to an engine that fails to start when it should. Regardless of the type of complaint, you’re going to want to avoid vehicles at or near the top of this list.

The Car Complaint Index Explained

The Car Complaint Index is a list of vehicles that offer you the information you want when you’re trying to figure out what vehicles to avoid. While there’s no evidence of these models being lemons yet, more complaints could lead to one of these vehicles becoming the start of our Lemon Series in the future. Avoid this by ensuring you stay away from the models listed in the Car Complaint Index.

How is the Information Gathered?

The models that are listed on the Car Complaint Index come from consumer advocate Jack Gillis, the Center for Auto Safety, and the NHTSA. This means you have the information needed from an expert perspective to make sure you avoid buying a vehicle that might soon become a lemon. You don’t want to have the hassle of a car you can’t trust, and this index is made to help you with good information.

The Lemon Series Cars With the Most Complaints

The complaint index is based on a ratio of the number of complaints to the sales of that vehicle. For the 2020 model year, the vehicles that have the highest projected complaint ratios are:

•Hyundai Santa Fe –>20,000

•Chrysler Pacifica –>20,000

•Tesla Model S –>20,000

•Hyundai Tucson –14,401

•Ford Fusion Energi –12,119

•Jeep Cherokee –10,628

•Dodge Journey –9,736

•Mercedes-Benz GLC –9,574

•Mercedes-Benz CLA –9,296

•Dodge Durango –9,183

•Jeep Grand Cherokee –8,638

•Chevrolet Bolt –8,463

•Jeep Renegade –7,496

•Volvo XC90 –7,435

•Nissan Titan –6,958

•Tesla Model X –6,723

•Cadillac XT5 –6,519

•Chevrolet Equinox –6,328

 

What Does this Mean for You?

Do you own one of these vehicles and you haven’t had any complaints so far? That’s great, but don’t be shocked if you do have complaints later on. If you’re shopping for a new car, you might want to avoid one of these models and look at others. On the other hand, if you’re dead set on buying that Hyundai Santa Fe because you’ve had one before or you’ve fallen in love with it, at least you have the information needed going into the purchase.

What Happens if You Have a Lemon?

If you’ve bought a vehicle, even if it’s not one of the models on the Car Complaint Index, and it’s become a lemon, you need to learn about your local lemon laws. Lemon laws differ from state to state, which means you might need a lawyer to help you understand them when you need to file a legal complaint. Avoid the possibility of a lemon and look forward to our next installment of the Lemon Series to make it easier to stay away from vehicles that have a history of being problems for owners.