British survey ranks most unreliable car models, highlighting frequent faults

The UK motoring magazine What Car? released a survey of 30,000 British drivers that identifies five‑year‑old cars with the highest breakdown rates, longest repair times and costly fixes. The list places the Seat Leon and Volkswagen Golf diesel at the bottom, followed by models such as the Range Rover Evoque, Vauxhall/Opel variants, MG ZS electric, Mazda CX‑60, Kia Sportage diesel, Vauxhall Mokka electric, MG 4 and the second‑generation Nissan Juke. Reported problems span brake systems, electrical components, multimedia units, suspensions and power‑train elements, with Chinese‑made MG electric cars sometimes immobilised for up to a week.

Separately, experts from the UK‑based Dace Motor Group warned that driver habits can trigger costly failures. Common mistakes include driving with low oil levels or delaying oil changes, neglecting coolant checks, and ignoring tyre wear, brake wear or dashboard warnings. Regular maintenance is urged to avoid expensive engine or cooling‑system repairs and to extend vehicle lifespan.