These Most Haunted Cars Come With Faults Drivers Still Remember
A Volt’s costly breakdown
One reader said a 2017 Chevrolet Volt had a string of problems, including unreliable air conditioning, repeated “shift to park” messages and a misfire. Its most serious failure came when it stopped moving in a parking garage at midnight.
A dealer traced the breakdown to a burned wiring panel, which staff said they had never encountered before. The car stayed in the shop for three months while the dealer built a replacement part, and the owner eventually got rid of it.
Accidents and erratic headlights
A former owner of a 2020 Mercedes S560 said the car was involved in three minor accidents over 15 months, including one while parked. The owner reported that none was their fault and traded it for a 2025 S580e, hoping the run of bad luck would not follow.
Another reader recalled an 1988 Honda Prelude Si whose pop-up headlights alternated up and down whenever it rained. The driver learned to pull a fuse and manually leave the lights raised, though they preferred the car’s appearance with them down.
An El Camino with a grudge
A reader and their father rebuilt a 1960 Chevrolet El Camino, replacing its engine and clutch, repairing rust and repainting it. The owner’s girlfriend disliked the loud car, which had no air conditioning.
The owner said the starter sometimes needed a screwdriver jump, seemingly when the girlfriend was along. On another occasion, she drew blood while trying to open a kick-panel vent, though the reader could not explain how it happened.
The boat’s string of mishaps
A sport-fishing boat owner said both outboard engines died while crossing the Intracoastal Waterway, despite having separate fuel tanks and electrical systems. The boat later caught fire, and its drain plug came out unexpectedly on the ocean and at the dock.
While the owner was under the boat to inspect damage, its trailer jack collapsed and pinned them, despite the owner saying they had not touched the boat or trailer. The owner also described trying to repair an outboard lower unit and said unexpected knocks at the door can still prompt fears that the boat has found them.
Key points
- A 2017 Chevrolet Volt’s burned wiring left its owner stranded and led to a three-month repair.
- An 1988 Honda Prelude’s headlights moved up and down unpredictably in the rain.
- A Mercedes S560 was involved in three minor accidents in 15 months, according to its former owner.
- A sport-fishing boat owner reported engine failures, a fire, a loose drain plug and a collapsing trailer jack.