Finding a trouble-free used car has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with applying good research and investigative skills. Knowing how to spot potential problems and determining how reliable a used vehicle is can save you from expensive automotive headaches down the road. The following advice can help you to avoid a lemon and find a good value.
To reduce the risk of purchasing a trouble-prone vehicle, identify models with a good reliability record before you begin shopping. Consumer Reports’ annual subscriber survey provides exclusive real-world reliability information that can help you narrow your selections. See our list of the best and worst used cars. Also read the reliability-history charts that accompany most of the car model pages to get a more detailed view at how specific vehicles have held up in 17 trouble areas, as well as overall. If the car you’re interested in is known to have certain trouble spots, you know to pay special attention to those components during inspection.