The 20 Absolute Worst Cars of the 1980s

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 11/04/2024 in facepalm

Many gear heads will tell you that the 1980s was the worst decade ever. Consumers were ready to buy tech-heavy cars of the future, and manufacturers pivoted to small turbo charged engines and fully-digital dashboards. Only, they were four decades too early.

While those design trends are exactly what's happening today, tech in the 80s wasn't quite where it needed to be to make that happen. The result? A whole heaping pile of cars that were steaming junk.

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1. Chevrolet Citation, (and other GM X-Cars).
Among a litany of other problems, the Citation and GM’s other X-Cars suffered rear brake issues leading to many deadly accidents.
2. Pontiac Fiero
The Fiero might look incredible, but like its name and color imply, it had an issue with combustion. It also didn’t perform as well as expected.
3. Chevy Cavalier, (and its cousins).
The Cavalier had an atrocious and weak engine, along with poor suspension. Then, GM made last minute luxury versions like the Cadillac Cimarron, which did long-lasting damage to the brand.
4. Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial attempted to implement a digital dashboard and electronic fuel injection, neither of which were reliable. It also carried an unrealistically high price tag.
5. Triumph Acclaim
Triumph went out of business only three years after making the incredibly dull Acclaim. A shame for a company that produced so many fantastic sports cars.
6. Maserati Biturbo
The Biturbo was unreliable, difficult to work on, and prone to overheating. Not good for a luxury vehicle.
7. Renault Fuego
The Fuego was supposed to compete with American Muscle of the day, but did so with an engine that made 107 horsepower.
8. Dodge Diplomat
The Diplomat featured an incredible combination of low power, poor reliability, bad gas mileage, poor ride quality, and a lack of space in a massive car.
9. Alfa Romeo Milano
The Alfa Milano was responsible for removing Alfa from the American market, and did so with its infamous Alfa reliability.
10. Chrysler Executive
The executive was a limousine that wasn’t a limousine, and predictably nobody wanted it.
11. Alfa-Romeo Arna
Aiming for a combination of Alfa fun and Nissan reliability, it instead flipped those two around.
12. Ford Bronco II
Made famous by the OJ chase, the earlier Bronco ironically was - and still is - a death trap of a box.
13. Lancia Prisma
Lancia is known for making some of the most stylish and iconic cars of all time. Does this look like one of those?
14. Mercury Lynx
The Lynx was considered ugly, and customers were unhappy with its new front-wheel-drive.
15. Lada Riva
The soviets made their cars like they made their buildings; boxy, boring, and lifeless. No car better embodies those themes than the Lada Riva.
16. Trabant
Another soviet beauty. The only choice when going for a drive through Siberia with your comrade.
17. Subaru XT
Subaru decided to make an off-roading coupe, but without any coupe sport features. A unique and oddly desirable car to be sure, but a puzzling choice.
18. Buick Century
Although a picturesque image of the decade’s design, the Century hardly lived up to its name in longevity.
19. Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel
Although diesel’s are still popular in Europe, the Delta 88 and its sluggish engine are blamed for killing the engine type in the US.
20. Delorean DMC-12
When Back to the Future was released, Delorean had already been out of business for a few years, thanks to the flop of the DMC-12. It was considered of incredibly low quality all the way around.

1. Chevrolet Citation, (and other GM X-Cars).
Among a litany of other problems, the Citation and GM’s other X-Cars suffered rear brake issues leading to many deadly accidents.
2. Pontiac Fiero
The Fiero might look incredible, but like its name and color imply, it had an issue with combustion. It also didn’t perform as well as expected.
3. Chevy Cavalier, (and its cousins).
The Cavalier had an atrocious and weak engine, along with poor suspension. Then, GM made last minute luxury versions like the Cadillac Cimarron, which did long-lasting damage to the brand.
4. Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial attempted to implement a digital dashboard and electronic fuel injection, neither of which were reliable. It also carried an unrealistically high price tag.
5. Triumph Acclaim
Triumph went out of business only three years after making the incredibly dull Acclaim. A shame for a company that produced so many fantastic sports cars.
6. Maserati Biturbo
The Biturbo was unreliable, difficult to work on, and prone to overheating. Not good for a luxury vehicle.
7. Renault Fuego
The Fuego was supposed to compete with American Muscle of the day, but did so with an engine that made 107 horsepower.
8. Dodge Diplomat
The Diplomat featured an incredible combination of low power, poor reliability, bad gas mileage, poor ride quality, and a lack of space in a massive car.
9. Alfa Romeo Milano
The Alfa Milano was responsible for removing Alfa from the American market, and did so with its infamous Alfa reliability.
10. Chrysler Executive
The executive was a limousine that wasn’t a limousine, and predictably nobody wanted it.
11. Alfa-Romeo Arna
Aiming for a combination of Alfa fun and Nissan reliability, it instead flipped those two around.
12. Ford Bronco II
Made famous by the OJ chase, the earlier Bronco ironically was - and still is - a death trap of a box.
13. Lancia Prisma
Lancia is known for making some of the most stylish and iconic cars of all time. Does this look like one of those?
14. Mercury Lynx
The Lynx was considered ugly, and customers were unhappy with its new front-wheel-drive.
15. Lada Riva
The soviets made their cars like they made their buildings; boxy, boring, and lifeless. No car better embodies those themes than the Lada Riva.
16. Trabant
Another soviet beauty. The only choice when going for a drive through Siberia with your comrade.
17. Subaru XT
Subaru decided to make an off-roading coupe, but without any coupe sport features. A unique and oddly desirable car to be sure, but a puzzling choice.
18. Buick Century
Although a picturesque image of the decade’s design, the Century hardly lived up to its name in longevity.
19. Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel
Although diesel’s are still popular in Europe, the Delta 88 and its sluggish engine are blamed for killing the engine type in the US.
20. Delorean DMC-12
When Back to the Future was released, Delorean had already been out of business for a few years, thanks to the flop of the DMC-12. It was considered of incredibly low quality all the way around.

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Chevrolet Citation, (and other GM X-Cars).
Among a litany of other problems, the Citation and GM’s other X-Cars suffered rear brake issues leading to many deadly accidents.

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1. Chevrolet Citation, (and other GM X-Cars). Among a litany of other problems, the Citation and GM’s other X-Cars suffered rear brake issues leading to many deadly accidents.

2. Pontiac Fiero The Fiero might look incredible, but like its name and color imply, it had an issue with combustion. It also didn’t perform as well as expected.

3. Chevy Cavalier, (and its cousins). The Cavalier had an atrocious and weak engine, along with poor suspension. Then, GM made last minute luxury versions like the Cadillac Cimarron, which did long-lasting damage to the brand.

4. Chrysler Imperial The Chrysler Imperial attempted to implement a digital dashboard and electronic fuel injection, neither of which were reliable. It also carried an unrealistically high price tag.

5. Triumph Acclaim Triumph went out of business only three years after making the incredibly dull Acclaim. A shame for a company that produced so many fantastic sports cars.

6. Maserati Biturbo The Biturbo was unreliable, difficult to work on, and prone to overheating. Not good for a luxury vehicle.

7. Renault Fuego The Fuego was supposed to compete with American Muscle of the day, but did so with an engine that made 107 horsepower.

8. Dodge Diplomat The Diplomat featured an incredible combination of low power, poor reliability, bad gas mileage, poor ride quality, and a lack of space in a massive car.

9. Alfa Romeo Milano The Alfa Milano was responsible for removing Alfa from the American market, and did so with its infamous Alfa reliability.

10. Chrysler Executive The executive was a limousine that wasn’t a limousine, and predictably nobody wanted it.

11. Alfa-Romeo Arna Aiming for a combination of Alfa fun and Nissan reliability, it instead flipped those two around.

12. Ford Bronco II Made famous by the OJ chase, the earlier Bronco ironically was - and still is - a death trap of a box.

13. Lancia Prisma Lancia is known for making some of the most stylish and iconic cars of all time. Does this look like one of those?

14. Mercury Lynx The Lynx was considered ugly, and customers were unhappy with its new front-wheel-drive.

15. Lada Riva The soviets made their cars like they made their buildings; boxy, boring, and lifeless. No car better embodies those themes than the Lada Riva.

16. Trabant Another soviet beauty. The only choice when going for a drive through Siberia with your comrade.

17. Subaru XT Subaru decided to make an off-roading coupe, but without any coupe sport features. A unique and oddly desirable car to be sure, but a puzzling choice.

18. Buick Century Although a picturesque image of the decade’s design, the Century hardly lived up to its name in longevity.

19. Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel Although diesel’s are still popular in Europe, the Delta 88 and its sluggish engine are blamed for killing the engine type in the US.

20. Delorean DMC-12 When Back to the Future was released, Delorean had already been out of business for a few years, thanks to the flop of the DMC-12. It was considered of incredibly low quality all the way around.

1. Chevrolet Citation, (and other GM X-Cars).

2. Pontiac Fiero

3. Chevy Cavalier, (and its cousins).

4. Chrysler Imperial

5. Triumph Acclaim

6. Maserati Biturbo

7. Renault Fuego

8. Dodge Diplomat

9. Alfa Romeo Milano

10. Chrysler Executive

11. Alfa-Romeo Arna

12. Ford Bronco II

13. Lancia Prisma

14. Mercury Lynx

15. Lada Riva

16. Trabant

17. Subaru XT

18. Buick Century

19. Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel

20. Delorean DMC-12

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eBaum's Picks

1. Chevrolet Citation, (and other GM X-Cars).
Among a litany of other problems, the Citation and GM’s other X-Cars suffered rear brake issues leading to many deadly accidents.

2. Pontiac Fiero
The Fiero might look incredible, but like its name and color imply, it had an issue with combustion. It also didn’t perform as well as expected.

3. Chevy Cavalier, (and its cousins).
The Cavalier had an atrocious and weak engine, along with poor suspension. Then, GM made last minute luxury versions like the Cadillac Cimarron, which did long-lasting damage to the brand.

4. Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial attempted to implement a digital dashboard and electronic fuel injection, neither of which were reliable. It also carried an unrealistically high price tag.

5. Triumph Acclaim
Triumph went out of business only three years after making the incredibly dull Acclaim. A shame for a company that produced so many fantastic sports cars.

6. Maserati Biturbo
The Biturbo was unreliable, difficult to work on, and prone to overheating. Not good for a luxury vehicle.

7. Renault Fuego
The Fuego was supposed to compete with American Muscle of the day, but did so with an engine that made 107 horsepower.

8. Dodge Diplomat
The Diplomat featured an incredible combination of low power, poor reliability, bad gas mileage, poor ride quality, and a lack of space in a massive car.

9. Alfa Romeo Milano
The Alfa Milano was responsible for removing Alfa from the American market, and did so with its infamous Alfa reliability.

10. Chrysler Executive
The executive was a limousine that wasn’t a limousine, and predictably nobody wanted it.

11. Alfa-Romeo Arna
Aiming for a combination of Alfa fun and Nissan reliability, it instead flipped those two around.

12. Ford Bronco II
Made famous by the OJ chase, the earlier Bronco ironically was - and still is - a death trap of a box.

13. Lancia Prisma
Lancia is known for making some of the most stylish and iconic cars of all time. Does this look like one of those?

14. Mercury Lynx
The Lynx was considered ugly, and customers were unhappy with its new front-wheel-drive.

15. Lada Riva
The soviets made their cars like they made their buildings; boxy, boring, and lifeless. No car better embodies those themes than the Lada Riva.

16. Trabant
Another soviet beauty. The only choice when going for a drive through Siberia with your comrade.

17. Subaru XT
Subaru decided to make an off-roading coupe, but without any coupe sport features. A unique and oddly desirable car to be sure, but a puzzling choice.

18. Buick Century
Although a picturesque image of the decade’s design, the Century hardly lived up to its name in longevity.

19. Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel
Although diesel’s are still popular in Europe, the Delta 88 and its sluggish engine are blamed for killing the engine type in the US.

20. Delorean DMC-12
When Back to the Future was released, Delorean had already been out of business for a few years, thanks to the flop of the DMC-12. It was considered of incredibly low quality all the way around.