The most unreliable car ever sold in America was once a popular model

There’s no guarantee that popularity lasts forever – and America’s most unreliable car is proof of that.

At one point, the Yugo GV was quite a popular brand in the United States.

But its reputation was soon to be sullied.

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The story of the Yugo GV

The Yugo GV – GV ironically being short for ‘Great Value’ – was produced by Zastava Automobiles in Yugoslavia.

It came to the US market in 1985, priced at around $3,990 and marketed as an affordable car.

It certainly was affordable.

As the cheapest car available in the US at the time, it saw some initial success.

Before Yugo America went bankrupt in 1992, around 140,000 units were sold in the country.

So, what happened? Why did this car get such a bad reputation?

Why the Yugo GV became known as ‘America’s most unreliable car’

Because of its poor quality, the Yugo became the butt of many a joke.

Just to give you a taste, one goes: ‘Why do Yugos have a rear window defroster?

‘So you can keep your hands warm while you’re pushing it.’

Another one just for fun?

‘What do you call the Yugo owner’s manual? The bus timetable.’

You get the idea.

All in all, the car was great for Dad jokes and not much else.

So, what were the issues?

Let us count the ways.

First of all, the build quality was very poor.

With cheap materials and substandard assembly quality, the car was frequently breaking down.

In addition to this, spare parts were hard to come by and the design itself was riddled with issues – air vents on the hood were large enough for objects to pass through and a spare tire was placed in the engine bay with no mounting.

According to Consumer Reports, the Yugo’s acceleration and engine performance were extremely poor.

In addition to this, the interior was cheap looking and the transmission was weak.

A recent article by J.D. Power revealed that spark plugs had been another thorn in the side of Yugo drivers.

The vehicle’s spark plugs weren’t well suited to American unleaded fuel.

As for the timing belt, it required service at 30,000 miles or significant engine damage would follow.

Dealerships ended up trying to give the cars away for free, but they were few takers.

The car was a complete and utter disaster.

Today, a group of small but dedicated collectors keep the Yugo alive. Some are still being sold for $10,000.

It goes without saying, but the car’s selling point isn’t its reliability, it’s the story that comes with it.

What can I say? The 1980s were a weird decade – just take a look at this plane-shaped motorcycle car that came out around then.