Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

European luxury cars are renowned for their quality and features, but not all are reliable or safe.

Most luxury cars of 2022 offer a pleasant and memorable driving experience. Even though you might not drive your luxury car daily, some models can make you feel like a million bucks when you drive to work or during the weekend.

Finding a reliable luxury car can make the difference between spending time at the garage or enjoying some relaxing countryside drives with your family. Even though Europe is the largest source of luxury cars, here are some cars you should avoid.

Audi makes some best-looking luxury cars in Europe. However, the A6 is among the cars people avoid on both new and used car lots. The 2019 to 2021 models have had six recalls, with some of them affecting over 45,000 models.

The latest recall of the A6 was in March 2022, where some 2019-2021 models would show an inaccurate fuel reading that could lead to an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash. Some vehicles also had a misaligned rear axle that could lead to uneven or premature tire wear.

The CLA is an entry-level luxury car from Mercedes. The downside of this beautiful car is its cheap build quality, which lowers its retail price. This also made the vehicle prone to recalls, including the electrical system software, airbags, engine cooling, clutch assembly, and body structure.

Even though the CLA might look great, ooze comfort, and be an engineering masterpiece with one of the lowest drag coefficients in the segment, it also had serious issues, making it one of the least reliable Mercedes vehicles in production.

One standout failure was the recall that affected over 1 million buyers where the eCall system would fail and result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location. This would increase the risk of injury after a crash.

Related: Mercedes Introduces Exclusive AMG A 35 And CLA 35 'Edition 55' Models

The Volvo XC90 is one of the best-looking mid-size luxury SUVs you can buy. However, the SUV has had many problems, with most buyers reporting gearbox problems at relatively low mileage of less than 30,000. Additionally, the fuel injectors in the diesel engines would tend to fail, making the XC90 reluctant to start.

During its long life, the XC90 has had a few recalls, with the biggest involving 18,726 cars in 2006. This recall was for the steering where it would fail after continuous tough use.

The 2015 Mercedes C300 was one of the most unreliable luxury sedans. The vehicle had over ten recalls, with most dealing with the fuel system, airbags, steering, lighting, powertrain, and electrical system software.

One thing that the C300 had going for it was its aggressive looks. However, its bark was worse than its bite, with some owners experiencing issues of the sunroof detaching while driving. Luckily, Mercedes recalled the part and replaced the panels for free.

Related: 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Costs, Facts, And Figures

In 2021, BMW’s luxury sedan was recalled five times due to many issues like battery, child seat connector, driveshaft, hydraulic brakes, and rear camera. One severe issue was the driveshaft failure, where the output shafts would break due to heat treatment error. A broken shaft could lead to a loss of drive power or a rollaway in a parked vehicle.

The 48-volt battery recall also affected most 2021 models due to faulty connections that increased electrical resistance, which could lead to a fire. Besides these issues, the 7 Series also suffers from depreciation like Maserati. New vehicles depreciate quickly, with some slightly used models selling for 43.3% less than a new one.

Jaguar’s XJ series aims to offer owners notability and prestige. However, this British luxury sedan was plagued with electronics and infotainment issues even with its beautiful looks. In 2017, the XJ had a recall for the instrument cluster where it would intermittently go blank, failing to show critical information like vehicle speed.

In the same year, the XJ had a recall for the airbags. The restraint control module software would cause the front airbags to deploy improperly in a frontal impact crash, increasing the risk of injury or death. In 2019, the XJ had an engine failure recall for V6 and V8 gasoline engines.

Related: 8 Reasons Why We Love The Jaguar F-Type (2 Reasons Why We Wouldn't Buy One)

Maserati models over the years have been recalled for multiple reasons. The Ghibli is one vehicle that has had a handful of these recalls, with the model having fire risks in the fuel line and seats. In 2017, this luxury sports sedan was recalled for fire risk. When adjusting the front seats, the wiring harness could rub and create a fire short.

Also, in the same year, the Ghibli had a recall for faulty fuel lines that could pose a fire risk. As of 2018, the recall completion rate was 77.7%, with most owners getting new fuel lines. Besides their unreliability, Maserati vehicles depreciate more than most luxury cars.

The Stelvio is one mid-level luxury SUV that aims to deliver agile handling. However, there was a recall of 12,000 SVs in 2021 due to three main problems. These recalls included the airbag where an improperly crimped clamp could allow the side curtain airbag inflator and cushion to separate.

The second recall was for the hydraulic brakes, where the ABS hydraulic control unit rotor shaft could separate in hard braking, thus reducing the brakes and leading to a loss of ABS. As if the two weren’t severe enough, there was a third recall for the fuel line sensor cracking and leaking fuel. This posed a potential fire hazard to all Stelvio owners.

Related: Here’s Why The Alfa Romeo 4C Is A Worthy Investment In 2022

In 2011, BMW’s coupe-like luxury SUV had several recalls varying from minor issues to deadly mistakes. One problem that most owners experienced was overheating once they got to around 70,000 miles. The water pump was another part that was also prone to overheating. This potential hazard could lead to a smoldering of the engine compartment, the pump, or vehicle fire.

Additionally, some diesel models experienced swirl flap breaks that allowed metal debris in the engine. The 2011 model had some additional problems with the handbrake actuator failure, making it hard to release the handbrake. There were also multiple airbag recalls where an inflator explosion would result in sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle’s occupants.

Land Rover is famous for producing luxury SUVs in three models, Evoque, Discovery, and Range Rover. Over the past few years, most of their models, especially Range Rovers, have been recalled due to defective doors, seatbelts, and airbags.

Some affected models include the 2016 Range Rover, where the front passenger airbag failed to deploy in case of a crash. In the same year, there was another recall for the safety belt pretensioners where the safety belt would fail to restrain occupants in case of a collision.

Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan - team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.