10 Japanese Cars Experts Say You Should Avoid Right Now

Not every Japanese car is the reliable gem people expect. According to auto experts, these 10 models have recurring issues rom expensive repairs to declining performance making them risky buys in 2025. If you’re planning to shop smart, these are the ones to skip.

Nissan Rogue with the CVT

Oh man, we gotta start here. The Rogue, especially like the 2014-2017 models. The car itself is… fine? It’s fine. But that continuously variable transmission, or CVT? It’s a nightmare. They’re known for just… giving up. Shuddering, overheating, straight-up failing. A replacement can be like $4,000 or more. You can find these used for maybe $12,000-$16,000, but honestly, it’s a ticking time bomb. It’s just not worth the anxiety.

Mitsubishi Mirage

Okay, so the Mirage. It’s… it’s cheap. That’s its only feature. It’s one of the cheapest new cars you can buy, starting around $16,000. But you get what you pay for. It feels incredibly cheap, the three cylinder engine is so underpowered it’s scary to merge on a highway, and honestly, it just feels flimsy. For the same money, a used Corolla is a million times better. It’s a car that exists solely because of its price tag, not because it’s any good.

Subaru WRX (used and abused)

Now this one hurts, because I love the idea of the WRX. But a used one? Oh boy. You’re almost guaranteed to buy someone else’s project car that’s been driven really, really hard. The turbocharged engines can be finicky, and if the previous owner messed with the tuning? You’re looking at major repair bills. A used one might be $18,000, but the engine rebuild could be another $8,000. It’s a lottery ticket, and you’ll probably lose.

Nissan Altima with the CVT

See a pattern with Nissan? Yeah. The Altima has the same CVT issues as the Rogue. Which is a shame because they’re decent-looking sedans and you see them everywhere. But that transmission is a massive liability. A used one from that same risky era might be $10,000-$14,000, and it’s just such a gamble. It’s like buying a house with a known foundation problem.

Toyota Prius c

Wait, a Toyota? On the ‘avoid’ list? Yeah, this one’s specific. The Prius c, the little one. It was just… not great. It got good gas mileage, sure, but it was so unbelievably slow and the interior was so unbelievably cheap and noisy. For the same money, a standard Prius is a much, much better car. You could find a used one for $12,000, but you’ll be miserable every time you have to accelerate up a hill.

Infiniti Q50 with the 3.7L

This is a weird one. The 3.7-liter V6 engine itself is actually pretty robust. The problem is… everything else. The infotainment system is a clunky, dated mess with two screens that just confuse you. They’re known for weird electrical gremlins and the interior materials haven’t aged well. A 2014-2015 model might be $15,000, but you’re buying a headache of outdated tech.

Scion iQ

The iQ! It’s so tiny and cute, right? But it’s just… too tiny. It’s a Smart car competitor, and it feels like it. It’s incredibly impractical, the ride is harsh, and it’s just not a good daily driver for, you know, normal life. You can find them for like $8,000, but what are you gonna do with it? It’s a novelty, not a car.

Nissan Versa (with the CVT)

sigh Nissan again. The Versa with the automatic CVT is probably the worst offender. It’s the definition of an appliance, and a poorly made one at that. It’s slow, loud, and that transmission is a massive question mark. A new one is cheap, around $16,000, but a used one for $10,000 is just throwing money away. It’s the car you get when a rental company upsells you.

Subaru Ascent (early models)

The Ascent is Subaru’s big family hauler. The newer ones seem to have worked out the kinks, but those first couple of years, like 2019-2020… yikes. There were a lot of reports of transmission issues, and just general first-model-year problems. A used one might be $28,000, but you could be signing up for a lot of trips to the dealer. Sometimes it pays to wait for the second version.

Lexus CT 200h

This one is a tough call because it’s a Lexus, so it’s reliable, right? The hybrid powertrain is bulletproof. But the car itself is… kinda pointless. It’s a Prius in a slightly nicer suit, but it’s slower than a Prius and the back seat is microscopic. For the price a used one is still like $18,000 you could get a much nicer, more comfortable used Lexus ES hybrid. It’s a “premium” car that doesn’t feel very premium.