The used car market in India is experiencing a skyrocketing growth at present. Considering the fact that you can get multiple options in the used car market in the budget you have, the market is a perfect fit for those looking to buy big brand names in a limited budget. Sometimes, the buyers end up making a bad deal just because they like the car or the brand-name. In today’s featured, we tell you about 10-worst rated used cars in India. This article will help you be an aware customer and you won’t be carried away just by that glossy finished vehicle or the luxurious brand-name.
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Honda CR-V (2007-2013)
Honda CRV High Maintenance
For all those SUV lovers out there, Honda CRV might seem to be the easiest option in terms of availability in the used car market but here’s why you shouldn’t buy one. This SUV from the Japanese automaker is available in the used car market at a starting price of 3Lakhs INR depending upon the condition of the vehicle. The fact worth noticing is that you are getting a 23Lakh worth car at dirt cheap prices. This is just because the car is now relatively old. Just imagine the expense if there is any major part failure. Yes, spare parts for such an SUV aren’t cheap at all!
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Hyundai Sonata (2001-2005)
The Hyundai Sonata Spare Parts Availability
Talking about luxuries? Well, we can’t forget the Hyundai Sonata! Hyundai Sonata is another easily accessible car in the used car market but just don’t fall for it! Hyundai might seem like a name with low maintenance cost considering the maintenance costs of Santro, i10, i20 etc. Just to let you know, Sonata was the flagship model, therefore, comes with a higher maintenance cost as compared to the other Hyundai cars. Therefore, Sonata made it into our list of worst used cars in India just because of the cheap buying price and high maintenance cost.
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Suzuki Kizashi (2009-2013)
Suzuki Kizashi | credits – commonswikimedia.org High Maintenance & Spare Parts Availability
Maruti Suzuki – our very own brand known for manufacturing fuel-efficient and low-maintenance cost bearing vehicles, once brought in the Kizashi. You will now find this car in the used car market. No doubt it won’t fail to impress you with its sporty looks, Suzuki Kizashi will get along some really high maintenance costs and of course high fuel costs due to its low mileage. This is in our list of worst used cars in India just because it has got totally opposite characteristics than what you expect from an MS!
Read 10 Biggest Flop Cars in India | From the Suzuki Kizashi to Ford Fusion
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Skoda Fabia (2007-2014)
Skoda Fabia High Maintenance
Now you would say that Skoda Fabia wasn’t an expensive car at all so buying it from the used car market won’t be a bad decision at all. Yes, you might get it right in the terms of pricing but what about the availability of spare parts? Just keep in kind that Skoda discontinued the Fabia in India in 2013 and considering its 2020 now, the availability of a rare spare part might be a challenge for you. This hatch is on our list of worst used cars in India because of the spare part availability and also a comparatively higher maintenance cost than other cars available at a similar price.
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Volkswagen Polo (DSG)
Volkswagen Polo DSG Mechatronic Issues and High Maintenance
Now, this might sound painful to some readers. No doubt VW Polo is a very good car if you are an enthusiast or even if you are not. Considering a used Volkswagen Polo for yourself comes with the responsibility of checking every small detail about the car. Many owners abuse the car in the name of enthusiasm so don’t end up buying an abused tin can in the name of a cheap deal! Particularly talking about the DSG, if the gearbox of your used VW Polo turns out to be damaged, be prepared for a huge expense. All the VW Polo owners reading this, is your check engine light still on?
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Volkswagen Jetta (2007-2011)
VW Jetta Spare Parts Availability & Maintenance Issues
Another high maintenance car from VW. If you are going for a Jetta, make sure you have enough money to maintain this car afterwards. Jetta is known to have a lot of problems and by a lot, we mean that every single part of this car can turn out to be problematic even if the car is well maintained. Jetta is here on our list of worst used cars in India because of the fact that it has so many faults, be it the DPF light, electrical problems, heating problems or any other fault you can think of, Jetta has got them all.
Just don’t buy a Jetta that’s all we can say! -
Fiat Linea (2008-2011)
Fiat Linea Poor After Sales Service and Spare Parts Availability
The problem doesn’t lie in the car. Although Linea was a fairly good car when it used to exist in the market, Fiat failed to impress its customers with its aftersales support and parts availability. Linea is here in our list of worst used cars because of the same fact that Fiat owners complained about parts unavailability of parts when these cars were on sale so you can very well imagine the scenario in 2020.
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Fiat Punto (2009-2013)
Fiat Punto Poor After Sales and Spare Parts Availability
Although Fiat is known to develop reliable cars, Punto didn’t quite fit in the definition at all! Belonging to a wide network of car servicing workshops, we can confidently say that if you are buying a Punto, be ready for common problems like wiper linkage defects, knocking from the suspension, cornering problems and the most common- check engine light!
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Mitsubishi Lancer (2000-2007)
Mitsubishi Lancer Poor Spare Parts Availability and Non-Existent Service Centres
This might seem like an absolute delight to all the auto lovers. Just think about it Lancer was discontinued in India in 2012. Its 2020 and you can’t see even a single Mitsubishi on the roads. No doubt you will crack a nice deal on a Lancer but what about the spare parts? Just remember even a good car comes with a maintenance schedule which needs you to replace parts some or the other day. Think about this and you will realise why Lancer is on our list of worst used cars in India.
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Nissan Teana (2007-2014)
Nissan Teana | Credits: AutoCar Poor Spare Parts Availability and High Maintenance Cost
The luxurious offerings of this car might attract you but just don’t fall for it! If you think owning a Nissan Teana is easy, just ask someone who has already owned one. No, we are not defaming the car. Teana delivered luxury and that’s what it was meant to do. If you look for luxury at. a cheap price, sorry to say but you can’t get it! If you buy an old Nissan Teana just be ready for huge expenses afterwards. That’s all we can say.
This was all for our list of worst used cars in India. Don’t mistake the list as a mean to defame any car. Many cars mentioned above were actually quite good but considering the present situation, they might not form a perfect pick for you as a used car considering various factors and the other options available in the same range.
Can agree no more true af
The guy who published this article don’t know what he Is talking about.
Hi Gopinathan
Thank You for reading my article. This article is based on opinions from many second-hand car dealers around me. Stay pinned for more!
Yeh correct, see I have a Fiat Linea, I didn’t feel any spare parts scarcity. All the parts are available online on Boodmo and 99rpm.
Looks like who ever wrote all this has , no or very very poor knowledge of this cars , or just copy paste material which available on Google low moderated automobile fourms
Hi Aniket
Thank You for reading my article. This article is based on opinions from many second-hand car dealers around me. Stay pinned for more!
Sir, you maybe wrong. I have a Fiat Linea and I didn’t feel scarcity of spare parts. Everything is available online from Boodmo and 99rpm
is vw jetta 2012-2015 improved and more reliable than old 2008-2011 ? i mean lesser or no problems if maintained and driven or used properly ?? Plz reply
Hi Gurparteek
VW Jetta has seen many problems in terms of service & spare part availability. We advise you to refrain from buying a VW Jetta from the used car market.
It is quite evident from this blog that Mr Vishal Khanna the so called auto enthusiast has very little knowledge about some of the cars he has mentioned here. A school going kid could have a better understanding and knowledge of the industry than this ‘Auto Enthusiast’.
Hi Sushrut
Thanks for your constructive criticism on my credentials. My write-up is based on extensive data from used car dealers, sellers and our workshops. Moreover, I welcome your comment on my credentials and would like you to continue reading my articles.
Thanks and stay pinned!
We have a Punto Evo 2014 Diesel in our family and it is running very well, not a single issue experienced till date except basic service. Only the aftersales service is an issue.
I am driving a fiat punto 90ps 2013 model, done around 85 thousand kms. Absolutely no issues, on maintenance..
I own a linea 2009 model done 213000 km
No problem
Hi Amardeep
It’s great to know that your Linea has crossed the 2Lac mark. This shows that you have looked after your car really well. However, from the data sourced from dealerships & our workshops, we have seen that Fiat causes problems to their owners in terms of service and spare part availability.
Thanks & stay pinned!
How about Grand i10. I just bought a 2016 Diesel Sportz done with 69900. Seems fine for now. Any valuable thoughts to share with similar readers.
Hi Arun
Grand i10 is a good car but a considerable fact here is that diesel prices are rising so you may land up in higher fuel costs and higher maintenance costs of a diesel vehicle. The need of the hour is a petrol or CNG car. If these costs are not an issue, you can go for Grand i10 diesel without any doubt!
How about Fiat palio. Is it good to go for it?
Yes Prashant
Fiat Palio is definitely a good option but the only thing that might trouble you is the availability of spare parts.
Fiat punto’s spare parts are available in the jeep showrooms.
Nice post…
How about buying a preused skoda yeti elegance 4×4??
Hi,
Skoda Yeti is a really good car and being a 4X4 its even more tempting to buy. If you are okay with the average service cost, Yeti just makes a lot of sense. 🙂
Sir all the Fiat parts are available online
I have a Fiat Linea Petrol 2009, it gives me perfect riding comfort. All the spare parts are available online from Boodmo and 99rpm. Both OEM and Aftermarket parts are available. One of the main drawback which I found is that its mileage. Remain everything are maintained very well. Overall look, strong body, nice driving comfort, lot of boot space, spacious leg room, fill with latest features, safety and security for family.
It seems the author doesn’t know cars well. Both Linea and Punto continued to be sold till April 2020 (at least the Evo versions shown in this article) till BS 6 norms were enforced. Also both vehicles are segment best in terms of ride and handling but quite strangely the author lists cornering problems as a complaint with Punto. Surely, he hasn’t done his homework properly before putting pen to paper.
Hi Ravudai,
I totally agree with you that both Fiat Punto and Fiat Linea are a real gem when it comes to driving dynamics and ride quality. But what is lacking was the aftersales service. Hence, with varying quality levels in servicing, it is there on the list. Stay Pinned! 🙂
Please let me know which used car to buy. Presently owner of Chevrolet spark (LPG) version, 2009 model, average daily running 50 kms. Monthly another 600 kms another long trip. Suggest best car preferably diesel as I want to keep the vehicle for a longer period.
Hi There
You can look out for Hyundai i20 or Ford Figo if you are planning to buy a used car
How about Jetta 2012 model which was the new gen??
Please reply…
It’s a No Yash
It will cost you a lot when you will go for its repair and services
Hi Yash,
If you find a good one, go for it. But please remember that parts will be on the expensive side. Mk6 Jetta is basically an Audi A4 underneath. Same platform, same engine!
If you are buying one, ensure that it has all the service records. Check if the timing kit and coolant pump was changed, if not you will need to change it around the 1 lakh km mark. Its better to take the car to a mechanic who works on German cars get it inspected. A vcds scan would be good.
Jetta doesn’t suffer from any electrical issues or DPF issues as the author mentioned. Infant Indian Jetta don’t even come with DPF. Iam surprised that author doesn’t know this!
If you can get hold of Vcds, you can use it to check the health of high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) . Basically you will need to check the fuel rail pressure that is commanded by the ECU and actual pressure delivered by the pump. If they are in close range, its good.
From what I have seen, coolant pump and HPFP (made by Bosch) are the two things that can go bad on Jetta. HPFP failure is very rare, but if it happens, it will cost you a bomb to repair. Coolant pump is around 2.5k. Same pump is used in Vento, Rapid and Polos. So availability is not an issue. Also be prepared for ABS sensor failures. It each sensor may cost you around 2.2k. I have replaced 3 ABS sensors in the last 8 years.
If you are looking for an automatic Jetta, then ensure that DSG oil was replaced as per schedule. Dq250 gearbox is wet clutch gearbox and doesn’t fail like Dq200 gearboxes found in Polos, Ventos and Rapids
I have a 2014 Jetta and most of the things that you have said about it is factually incorrect!
You mentioned Jetta to be plagued electrical issues, DPF issues and heating issues in your comments. I am yet to see an electrical issue or a heating issue or AC in my car that has clocked more than 1 lakh km. Chances of electrical issues are virtually nil unless you install after market accessories which requires electrical modifications. Rat bites may cause it.
Also Indian Jetta has no DPF. I am not sure why you said DFP issues for a car that has no DPF. Looks like your comments are based on articles over the Internet.
The common rail TDI engine is reliable and virtually trouble free if you maintain it using the VW approved oil (VW 507 00/VW 505.01)
I am not saying its the perfect car. It has got its own fair share of issues, but nothing like what you said. Let me update you on some of the common issues with Jetta
1. ABS sensor failure (very common)
2. Coolant pump failure (mostly sorted out)
3. Interior roof liner issues
4. Issues with door lock (rare)
5. DMF failure (if you remap and abuse the car too much)
Now the scariest and the costliest failure that can happen on a common rail TDI Jetta (2011 and higher) is the high pressure fuel pump (Hpfp) failure. The fuel pump made by Bosch is very sensitive to fuel quality and is known to fail if fuel quality is not good or if there is water or petrol contamination in diesel. It may also get damaged if you don’t prime the fuel system after fuel filter replacement.
HPFP failures were common in the Jettas in the US, but very common not in other countries. US Jettas are made in Mexico, where as Jetta sold in India comes from Germany. My VIN decodes to Germany as country of origin.
I have never faced spare part unavailability for my Jetta. But the parts are on the expensive side. For eg if an interior switch breaks, it will be expensive to replace. VW approved engine oil is also costly.
However all the common wear and tear parts are readily available.
The only parts that I have replaced so far (proactive replacement) are timing kit, the coolant pump and the engine mounts and link rods.
The only parts that failed in my car were 3 ABS sensors (approximately 2.2k per sensor) and the interior roof liner and broken outside rear view mirror switch. I will also need to replace the front bushing soon.
Thanks Thomas for informative and detailed post