Some cars are known for their looks; others are known for their speed. Some cars are known for their dependability, and some cars are known to have none of these qualities. In this article, we will be covering the worst cars from 2002 and forward. Our decisions will be made based on the most common criteria to define what makes a car a “good” car: the looks, the vision the manufacturers had, the dependability, and overall build quality. There are people out there who will disagree but CashForCars has taken our stand on the worst cars from 2002 and forward!
2003 Chevy SSR
The 2003 Chevrolet SSR exemplifies a good idea executed poorly. Perhaps taking inspiration from the Chevrolet classic, the El Camino, Chevy attempted to create a utilitarian truck-car thing. It was not a hatchback and not a truck. The Chevy SSR lacked direction overall. It looks like a Frankensteinian amalgamation of the truck bed from an El Camino and a Volkswagen Bug. Despite all this, they still have a cult status among their devotees, going for just under $20,000 for used 2004-2005 models. The looks and the strange execution make it a contender for one of the worst cars from 2002 and forward.
2002 GEM
The GEM, created by Global Electric Motorcars, is both efficient and terrifying in practice. It is an electric, street-legal “car” that doesn’t need any sort of safety ratings or testing because of the federal Low-Speed Vehicle standards. With a whopping top speed of 25 mph, you can drive the GEM in any area with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. The GEM often has no doors, flaps, or protection around the sides of the vehicle. It is essentially a street-legal golf cart. The GEM was adapted for commercial and utilitarian use. We are glad because the last thing we want is to be stuck behind a GEM on a busy street!
2003 Pontiac Aztek
Several questionable choices are clear when it comes to the infamous Pontiac Aztek. It’s universally agreed that this attempt at an off-road SUV is plain ugly. General Motors marketed the Aztek as an off-road, crossover SUV and came with a tent that could be built from the back. There is also a removable cooler in the console.
The Aztek was a misguided effort albeit a rather interesting SUV with features never really seen from earlier General Motors vehicles. The Pontiac Aztek’s biggest issue was General Motors was attempting to reinvent the wheel while other manufacturers were making better crossover SUVs. General Motors killed the Aztek after 4 years of production. The Aztek has gained popularity after it’s appearance in the hit TV show, Breaking Bad. Walter White, the “protagonist” of the series, drives the Aztek in many scenes in Breaking Bad.
2006 PT Cruiser
The first Chrysler entry on this list is the PT Cruiser! Whether you love it or hate it, the PT Cruiser had issues since it rolled off the production floor. Problems are common and all solutions seem temporary when trying to repair the PT Cruiser. The PT Cruiser gained a reputation as one of the worst cars ever made because of this. Commonly made fun of in internet memes, the PT Cruiser is deserving of its infamy.
According to Carcomplaints.com, drivers of the 2006 PT Cruiser have experienced the engine shutting off while they were driving at high speeds. There is no consistency in this issue either. A recall issued by Chrysler focused on faulty glass mounting hardware that caused the glass to fall out. This seems trivial to an engine that would cut off without reason turning even the most die-hard PT Cruiser devotee against this sedan.
2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
The 2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is the second entry from Chrysler on our list! Despite the criticism of the PT Cruiser, most of the parts on the Cruiser worked. Chrysler issued 6 different recalls for issues with the Sebring. Everything from engine problems to control arm replacements, the Chrysler Sebring is a black mark on Chrysler’s massive array of vehicles.
Jeremy Clarkson, America’s favorite British gearhead, described the Chrysler Sebring Convertible as the worst car of all time in his review of the car written for the UK-based newspaper, the Times. Clarkson describes the power of the Sebring as “converting fuel into noise” and complained about the Sebring’s lack of build quality. The 2002 Sebring also had issues with oil sludge clogging the engine causing the entire engine to fail. Despite what one’s opinion may be about Mr. Clarkson, we have to agree with him that the Chrysler Sebring Convertible may be one of the the worst cars from 2002 and forward.
What Do You Do if You Own One The Worst Cars from 2002 and Forward?
If you own one of the cars listed above, we suggest that you try to get rid of it as soon as possible! CashForCars.com will buy any car or vehicle as long as it is a 2002 or newer! Check out our blog about the CashForCars.com selling process here and see how easy, fast, and convenient it is to get rid of your used or junk car. We’ll even take the cars listed above!
Thanks for reading!
