The 20 Least Reliable and Durable Cars of Model Year 1984

This page lists the 20 worst cars of model year 1984 by reliability-and-durability grade point average (R-D GPA).

1984's Bottom 10 Cars: The Ten Worst

The 10 worst cars of 1984 are listed below in ascending order of Reliability-Durability GPA (worst first), together with the corresponding R-D Grade.

• American Motors Corporation's Renault Alliance, Encore, with a Reliability-Durability GPA of 0.16 and a Reliability-Durability Grade of F
• The Jeep Grand Wagoneer V8, with a R-D GPA of 0.24, an F
• The Buick Century V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.30, an F
• The Dodge Daytona, with a R-D GPA of 0.30, an F
• The Chrysler Laser, with a R-D GPA of 0.30, an F
• The Jeep Cherokee, Wagoneer 4-cylinder, 4-wheel-drive, with a R-D GPA of 0.31, an F
• The Plymouth Horizon, Turismo, with a R-D GPA of 0.35, an F
• The Jeep Cherokee, Wagoneer 6-cylinder, with a R-D GPA of 0.35, an F
• The Dodge Omni, Charger, with a R-D GPA of 0.35, an F
• The Pontiac 2000 Sunbird, with a R-D GPA of 0.36, an F

Manufacturers of the 10 Worst 

General Motors Corporation's share of the ten least reliable-durable cars in 1984 decreased from 6 in 1983 to 2 in 1984, while Chrysler Corporation's share of the 10 worst increased from 2 in 1983 to 4 in 1984. American Motors' share of 4 in 1984 increased from 2 in 1983.

Ford Motor Company accounted for none of the 10 worst in 1984, as it did in 1983, 1982, 1981, and 1980.

None of the then Michigan 4 manufacturers (American Motors Corporation was absorbed by Chrysler Corporation in 1987) accounted for 1984's best cars, 1983's best cars or 1982's best cars.

The following chart depicts each manufacturer's percent share of the Bottom 10 of 1984.

1984's Next 10 Worst Cars

The remaining 10 of the 20 worst cars are listed below in ascending order of Reliability-Durability GPA (worst first), together with the corresponding R-D Grade.

• The Ford Club Wagon V8, with a Reliability-Durability GPA of 0.37 and a Reliability-Durability Grade of F
• The Dodge Dayona Turbo, with a R-D GPA of 0.37, an F
• The Chrysler Laser Turbo, with a R-D GPA of 0.37, an F
• The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.38, an F
• The Oldsmobile Firenza 4-cylinder, with a R-D GPA of 0.42, an F
• The Volvo 760, with a R-D GPA of 0.42, an F
• The Buick Skyhawk, with a R-D GPA of 0.47, an F
• The Ford Club Wagon 6-cylinder, with a R-D GPA of 0.51, a D
• The Pontiac 6000 6-cylinder, with a R-D GPA of 0.52, a D
• The Buick Skylark 6-cylinder, with a R-D GPA of 0.52, a D

Manufacturers of the 20 Worst 

General Motors Corporation accounted for 35% of the 20 worst cars of model year 1984 - down from its 75% in 1983 and 1981, 80% in 1982 and 50% in 1980. Chrysler Corporation accounted for 30% of the 20 least reliable-durable cars of 1984 - up from its 10% in 1983, 1982 and 1981 and 25% in 1980; Ford Motor Company - 10%, up from 0% in 1983, 1981 and 1980, same as its 10% in 1982; AB Volvo - 5%, same as in 1983 and up from 0% in 1982, 1981, and 1980. American Motors accounted for 20% in 1984.

The Detroit 3 manufacturers (General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford) accounted for 15 of 1984's 20 worst cars.

The following chart gives each car maker's percent share of the Bottom 20 of 1984. 

Each manufacturer's percent share, rounded to the nearest percent, of the 36 worst vehicles by R-D GPA is:

General Motors Corporation: 50%

Chrysler Corporation: 22%

American Motors Corporation: 11%

Ford Motor Company: 8%

AB Volvo: 3%

Volkswagen AG: 3%

Jaguar: 3%

In 1984, the Michigan 4 accounted for all but three of the vehicles with a Reliability-Durability GPA of less than 1.00.

Computations

To compute the reliability-durability grade point average of the MY 1984 cars, Consumer Reports' reliability ratings for the age ranges 4-to-5 years and 5-to-6 years are used.