There are vehicles that bring joy to their owners at two different times: when buying them and, of course, when selling them. As is well known, Brazilians have a very passionate relationship with their vehicles, which leads many people to not conduct a rational analysis before buying. With the aim of guiding you, we have compiled in this article a list of car models to avoid at all costs. 

If you're looking to buy a used or nearly new car, it's worth taking a look at our list and seeing which cars you should avoid at this time. 

Learn which cars to avoid at all costs and prevent future problems. 

For a long time, the Audi A3 waged a fierce battle with the Golf. With different engines, the German automaker's model had performance and fuel consumption that didn't please owners of the 1.6 version. The 1.8 turbo version, while fun to drive, had high maintenance costs. 

Furthermore, parts are considered expensive, and due to constant updates, older models have suffered significant depreciation in value. Therefore, the Audi A3 is one of the cars to avoid at all costs. 

The French automaker's pickup truck was doomed from the start, as it attempted to enter a segment with already well-established competition, such as the Volkswagen Saveiro and Fiat Strada, for example.

The points that make the Hoggar a car to avoid at all costs are its weak engine when the bed is loaded and the low sales volume, which directly impacts resale value. It's no wonder that there are many used models available at affordable prices. 

The Citroen C4 Picasso was discontinued in 2019, and many considered the automaker's decision to be a wise one.

New models were sold for exorbitant prices, however, the resale values were extremely low. Even when sold through the manufacturer's own dealerships, owners lost up to 60% of the original value.

Furthermore, some of its parts are difficult to find, making maintenance expensive. Many are still swayed by the vehicle's ample size and interior space, but we can say without a doubt that owning a C4 Picasso is a real rip-off. It's natural that it's another car model to avoid at all costs. 

The Hyundai Sonata is an example of a large, robust, and technologically advanced vehicle, suitable for a nearly exclusive market. The model gained fame for being one of the first vehicles to park itself. 

The main factor that places the Sonata among the cars to avoid at all costs is its high depreciation and poor acceptance in the used car market, since its buyers always opt for new models. 

Even if you find a specimen with a seemingly good offer, be prepared to lose money on resale, or literally marry it.

The Fiat Linea was nothing more than a compact sedan that was on the Brazilian market for a period of 8 years, between 2008 and 2016.

However, the model had a number of problems considered chronic by its owners. Although it had a beautiful and bold look, the front and rear suspensions were problematic and always needed to be replaced prematurely. 

Another negative point was the Dualogic transmission, with imprecise gear changes and incorrect downshifts. Furthermore, radiator malfunctions were frequent, and complaints about noises and rattles coming from the plastic parts were common, even in models with low mileage.

Therefore, it's no surprise that the Fiat Linea is yet another car on the list of vehicles to avoid at all costs. 

Available in the Brazilian market since 2003, the Citroen C3 is one of the French automaker's most popular models in the Brazilian market. However, this doesn't remove it from the list of cars to avoid at all costs. 

The main reason to avoid the Citroen C3 altogether is related to maintenance. Even after years on the Brazilian market, repairing a C3 is not cheap, and this can be a real hassle for many owners. 

Another drawback of the Citroen C3 is its suspension. Relatively fragile, it tends to wear out more easily on roads with poor quality asphalt, something very common in Brazilian cities and highways. 

On the list of cars to avoid at all costs, we have another option from a French manufacturer, the Renault Sandero. Although it's a traditional model in the Brazilian market, it's very common to hear from its owners about its unreliability. In other words, breakdowns occur more frequently than normal.

Another negative point concerns the lack of technical information about repairs, which makes life difficult for mechanics and repair shops, potentially leaving the car out of service for a longer period of time if repairs are needed.

Finally, although it's a traditional and well-known car among Brazilians, there are reports of a lack of spare parts. Therefore, if you're thinking of buying a Renault Sandero, it might be better to choose another model.

Although it's a vehicle that features on the list of best-selling cars in Brazil, the Ford Ka is yet another car to avoid at all costs, due to a number of conditions.

One of the main issues. The first is a faulty cooling system, which contributes to frequent overheating, naturally causing a lot of headaches for owners. 

Furthermore, a constant complaint is the lack of spare parts, even at the manufacturer's dealerships. Therefore, if you come across attractive Ford Ka offers, you'll know why. 

Similar to the Citroen C3, the Peugeot 208 also has suspension problems. The model struggles on uneven and potholed roads, something very common in Brazil. 

Corrective maintenance, especially on suspensions and shock absorbers, is less frequent than on other models; in addition, maintenance in general is more expensive, and finding some specific parts can be a major problem.

It's important to point out that these issues were already complicated in previous generations, the famous 206 and 207, so the Peugeot 208 is yet another car to be avoided at all costs. 

Here we have another Ford vehicle on the list of cars to avoid at all costs. In this case, the problem with the Fiesta is very similar to that of the Ka; the cooling system doesn't work linearly, increasing the chances of overheating, which can cause more serious engine problems. 

Another drawback of this model is the lack of spare parts. Finding certain factory options can be a real challenge, which makes repairs take longer or forces owners to opt for aftermarket parts, potentially increasing the number of repairs and consequently costing them more.

Another reason to avoid the Ford Fiesta, especially second-generation models, is its 1.0-liter engine. Models equipped with this engine have poor performance in the city and on uneven roads, which contributes to higher fuel consumption. For all these reasons, the recommendation is to literally avoid the Ford Fiesta. 

Let's face it, it would be natural to find the Fiat Marea on the list of cars to avoid at all costs, wouldn't it?

Released in different models, such as hatchback, sedan, and station wagon, as well as various engine options, this car deserves its place on this list. Perhaps one of the main reasons why you should avoid this vehicle concerns the maintenance of the timing belt, because replacing this part requires removing the engine. 

Furthermore, poor maintenance and problems in the turbocharged versions contribute to engine overheating, which can even cause fires, leading to the model gaining a reputation as a "time bomb."

Finally, the mechanical problems and bad reputation directly impact its market acceptance, making the Marea, without a doubt, one of the main cars to avoid at all costs.

Launched in the Brazilian market in 2011, the Jac J3 was discontinued here in 2017. Its short lifespan is already cause for concern. 

One of the main problems with the Chinese automaker's model concerns its suspension, which is known for being extremely fragile and sensitive. This suspension problem ends up being reflected in the tires, which show uneven wear.

Another problematic factor is the difficulty in calibrating the electronic fuel injection system, which can negatively affect fuel consumption as well as engine performance. And finally, there's the old and well-known problem of parts, which are difficult to find. 

After all this, it's easy to understand why the Jac J3 is on the list of cars to avoid at all costs. 

Launched in 2009, the Renault Symbol had everything it needed to be a real hit in Brazil; however, what we saw here was a resounding sales failure, which led the French automaker to withdraw it from the market after three years. 

Based on the Clio Sedan platform, the Symbol featured different engine options and many standard accessories, such as alloy wheels, digital air conditioning, power windows and locks, power steering, and many others. 

You might then be wondering, but why is the Renault Symbol on the list of cars to avoid anyway? 

The first negative point about the Symbol was its appearance. For various reasons, the car did not appeal to Brazilians, being rejected at first, mainly due to its aesthetic design. 

Furthermore, since it shared the same front suspension setup as the Clio and a torsion beam rear axle, the Symbol had a very firm ride, even on Brazil's potholed streets. However, at higher speeds, the vehicle became light and unstable, which many considered dangerous. 

Because of this, the vehicle is highly disliked and depreciates rapidly. This makes it a great car not to own. 

The Citroen Xantia is considered a classic by many from the French automaker, but it wasn't very well designed for Brazilian streets and roads. Like the Citroen C3, its suspension suffers on our lunar-like asphalt.

Given its age, the sophisticated electronic components from the time of its release are expensive and difficult to find, which hinders its maintenance and also contributes to its depreciation.

Today it's possible to find units with a 2.0 engine for prices in the range of R$ 7 thousand, but it's important to remember that this is one of the main cars to avoid at all costs. 

Here we have a real absurdity that only Brazilian automakers are capable of offering. If cars from this manufacturer, like the second-generation Fiesta, already had poor performance due to their engine, what can we expect from a Ford EcoSport with a 1.0 engine?

Some might still try to argue that the engine was a supercharger with 95 horsepower, but even so, being a heavy crossover, the combination couldn't possibly work. Therefore, it's natural that the 1.0-liter engine model is another car to avoid at all costs. 

The poor performance, coupled with high fuel consumption, means that the model has no market acceptance whatsoever. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a car not to be bought. 

Did you like it? Then keep reading to find out which are the most fuel-efficient SUV models in Brazil!