When buying a new car, checking which models are unreliable may help you choose wisely. Allen Stewart, P.C., recommends that you research several sources to inform yourself. Why? Some data can be subjective, potentially biased, or presented in ways that may be difficult to understand. If you review several data sources, you’ll have more to go by, and then you can make up your own mind on how you want to proceed.
Also, if you already own a car that shows up in some of your reliability research, you’ll be able to track the issues, and then be ready to enlist the aid of a lemon law attorney to help you pursue your claim should your vehicle fit the lemon definition in your state.
We have compiled information from several trustworthy sources that you can use to begin your research.
Recent Data on Vehicle Reliability
On February 13, 2025, J.D. Power published a press release summarizing its 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study. The press release includes a graphic that ranks vehicle brands based on PP100, or the number of problems per 100 vehicles. You can use this chart to get a quick idea about reliability per brand. You may wish to combine the J.D. Power information with other top sources, such as Yahoo Autos’ insightful analysis on unreliable vehicles, featuring Consumer Reports data. Then you can also take the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data into account. We see that they list, as of February 28, 2025, these manufacturers as having the most recalls.
- General Motors, LLC
- Ford Motor Company
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
You may want to make your research more specific by using the NHTSA website’s data filters to learn about recall report issues.
The top three manufacturers listed above correlate with what we’ve seen historically from NHTSA data.
For more information on arbitration and other frequently asked lemon law claims questions, click here.
Here are some GM, Ford, and Chrysler vehicles with recent complaints and recalls that you may wish to review for your decision-making in 2025:
- GM: You might want to keep an eye on the GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, and Cadillac Escalade, among others, according to CBT News, which states that the NHTSA is investigating these and more GM models for engine failures.
- Ford: You may wish to note Bronco, Explorer, Edge and F-150 models, as some of these 2021-2022 models with EcoBoost engines were recalled with faulty intake valves that could cause engine failure. You may wish to track these models for future issues.
- With Chrysler, Kelley Blue Book reports the manufacturer’s Pacifica minivans and sedans (among other vehicles) have been the subject of multiple recalls.
While there is no exact science in saying a particular brand could cause you problems, reviewing data from several sources like these can help you stay on top of the latest vehicle dependability news.
Please note: Even if a manufacturer has a number of recalls, that doesn’t mean the model will automatically qualify as a lemon under the law. We will discuss in succeeding sections of this post the criteria that states use to determine if a vehicle can be categorized as a lemon.
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What Qualifies a Vehicle as a Lemon?
So, what happens if you did your due diligence and still ended up with an unreliable vehicle? That can happen, and then it’s important to know what to do. At Allen Stewart, P.C., we have years of experience fighting for our clients’ rights in lemon law cases. We know that certain manufacturers (as per the data we’ve shared and other sources you can research) can be involved in recalls and lemon law claims. It can literally pay to educate yourself on how the process for filing a lemon law claim works, so you’ll know what to do if you need to take action.
In a lemon law case, the major requirement is that the vehicle exhibit a “substantial defect” that greatly affects its use, safety, or value. Often these problems include issues with the engine, transmission, safety systems, brakes, defective steering, and more. So, if you’re looking for potential lemon vehicles, you may wish to review which brands have engine, transmission, or other issues more often than others. In some cases, a faulty air conditioner or heating system can negatively affect a vehicle’s intended use, and these could be considered substantial defects.
Lemon laws are confusing. Read our guide to the lemon law complaint process.
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The manufacturer gets a “reasonable number of repair attempts” to make the situation right. Your attorney will advise you as to your state’s rules on this (it’s usually three attempts), plus other state requirements to have your car classified as a lemon.
A key benefit of representation by Allen Stewart, P.C. is our extensive experience winning cases for clients using the Maguson-Moss Warranty Act, which can help protect consumers against other, more minor, but important defects. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act allows you to obtain legal assistance without incurring any personal legal fees. You can recover attorneys’ fees if you win your lawsuit against a manufacturer.
The Lemon Law Claim Process
You may wish to take advantage of our free consultation to have your case reviewed. Then, if you choose, based on our evaluation of the facts, Allen Stewart, P.C., can represent you through our process for filing a lemon law claim:
- Once our legal team determines you have a breach of warranty, you will speak with a lemon law attorney.
- The attorney will discuss the claim with you and request the vehicle’s purchase contract (if available), registration, and repair records.
- The attorney will discuss possible outcomes and, if both parties agree, pursue the claim on your behalf under our written contract.
- The attorney will contact the defendant, which most often is the lemon vehicle manufacturer.
- After notifying the defendant of the lemon law claim, the attorney aggressively advocates for you to resolve the matter without court intervention.
- Throughout the process, the attorney stays in contact with you, keeping you informed of any settlement offers.
The negotiation stage is where more than 90% of cases end without having to go to court. If the parties are unable to come to an agreement, the attorney will take legal action by suing the manufacturer and using discovery and disclosure to show that the manufacturer violated the lemon law. If no acceptable settlement is reached, the case proceeds to trial. Allen Stewart, P.C. will represent you in court, and we have extensive experience winning decisions for our clients.
Why You Need a Lemon Law Attorney
Lemon Law Attorney Andrew Ross with Allen Stewart, P.C. states: “I can’t see there being a good outcome for someone filing a lawsuit on their own. I would think that the likelihood of you recovering more on your own than what you could recover with an attorney is very, very low.”
Think you have a lemon, click here to fill out a 30 second form.
Your attorney is your guide to winning the compensation you deserve, and it’s important to note that not every attorney specializes in lemon law cases. Allen Stewart, P.C. will ensure that your case is aligned with all of your state’s lemon law requirements, and then we will fight vigorously to gain maximum compensation for you.
Learn more about the difference between general consumer attorneys and how a lemon law attorney provides you with a distinct advantage.
Allen Stewart, P.C. Provides Expert Lemon Law Representation
It’s always time well spent educating yourself on the latest vehicle ratings and which cars and trucks could be ones that end up classified as lemons. If things don’t work out and your vehicle has substantial problems, it’s good to know that you don’t have to face these issues alone. The lemon law attorneys at Allen Stewart, P.C., will provide you with a free consultation to review your case. We’ve won many lemon law cases across the country, including as leading Texas lemon law attorneys and California lemon law attorneys. Having our lemon law attorneys on your side will be a huge help when dealing with the intricacies of state lemon laws, as well as the deadlines for submitting claims, gathering evidence, and structuring your case to win maximum compensation.
Don’t wait to contact our office with your claim. Being proactive is key in lemon law cases, and you have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain by calling us at 866-440-2460 for a free consultation. You may also contact us online.