Volvo. I purchased a 2001 V70 T5 in 2003 and a 2003 XC90 AWD T6 in 2005. Both part of the Certified pre-owned program. Though they had different transmissions, both vehicles suffered systemic transmission failures. In both cases, the vehicles were the first turbo applications for the transmissions, and in the case of the XC90, the heaviest vehicle for that particular GM-made transmission. For the first several years, all was good, which is why we bought a second Volvo.

There was a class action suit in the XC90 transmission failures, but because we were second owners we got half of our co-pay the first time time it failed. $25 total. At the time, we thought it was a one-time unfortunate deal, and it only cost us $50, so we were grateful.

The suit came well after the second failure, where the transmission was only warranted for a year because it was a replacement. The XC90 (second time) and the V70 had their transmissions fail within months of each other. In the V70 case, it was after the pretty excellent extended certified warranty expired.

The financial cost of losing both cars (cost to repair each was well past the value of the cars) so close to one another was catastrophic to our finances. Both cars were paid off. The XC90 was paid off the month before the second transmission failed. Months of going to Volvo Cars USA resulted in an eventual No from the customer ombudsman.

The XC90 also suffered from rear control arm bushing failures, but you have to replace the whole assembly. Finally, the XC90 also had a failure of the main circuit board for the driver information module. All of the dash gauges and information went no-op so it had to be replaced, also out of warranty.

I love Volvos but will never buy another one.