Car and truck mods can be a fantastic way to enhance both style and performance. But sometimes, mod choices leave people scratching their heads. Some mods are impractical, defeat their purpose, or just look downright silly. This list contains 20 car and truck mods that make no sense, from the wildly impractical to the truly puzzling. Buckle up!

Oversized Spoilers

Spoilers are meant for high-speed stability, but some drivers go overboard with massive wings that seem out of place. On street-legal cars that never hit race speeds, these massive spoilers create drag, slow the vehicle down, and look out of place on compact cars that can’t compete. 

Fake Hood Scoops

Hood scoops can improve engine cooling and performance when they’re real. Many car owners install fake hood scoops, adding zero benefit to the car other than a “sporty” look that isn’t fooling anyone. Fake scoops disrupt airflow and can even decrease efficiency, which makes them an impractical addition.

Pointless Decorative Antennas

Some drivers add oversized, non-functional antennas purely for style, often aiming for a retro or quirky vibe. These accessories neither improve radio reception nor serve any real purpose. Instead, they can create drag or even risk damage in car washes. This turns them into more of a dubious style choice than a functional modification.

Monster Lift Kits on Daily Drivers

Lifting a truck is fine if you’re off-roading, but many owners install massive lift kits on trucks that never leave the pavement. The result? A high center of gravity that worsens handling creates blind spots and makes getting in and out a workout. Plus, these setups are notoriously rough on city streets.

Excessive Camber

Extreme camber angles, where wheels are tilted noticeably in or out, prioritize style over practicality. Although slight camber can improve cornering, extreme camber puts strain on tires and decreases handling. Rolling around on the inner edge of tires is hardly practical for daily driving.

Underbody Neon Lights

Neon under glow lights were popular in the 2000s, but unless you’re filming a scene for The Fast and the Furious, it serves no purpose. They don’t improve visibility, handling, or speed; they simply add a glow that’s only visible at night. Plus, underglow lights are outlawed in some places. 

Massive Rims on Low-Profile Tires

Giant rims with tiny, low-profile tires look flashy but cause more headaches than they’re worth. Large wheels add weight, reduce acceleration, and can negatively affect fuel efficiency. With minimal tire cushion, these setups make for a rough ride and increase the chances of damaging rims on potholes or bumps.

Excessive Stickers

Stickers can show off a driver’s personality, but plastering a vehicle with random decals can look tacky. Even worse, putting high-performance brand logos on a bone-stock car with no actual modifications can mislead others and often turn into a joke. Too many decals don’t add power; they just make your vehicle a mobile billboard.

Ridiculously Loud Exhausts

Some enthusiasts modify their exhausts to add a little growl, but others go overboard with systems that sound like roaring monsters. The catch? Most of these mods just create noise without adding an iota of power. Excessively loud exhausts can lead to fines, and their constant blaring annoys everyone around.

Fake Vents and Grilles

Much like fake hood scoops, fake vents and grilles add nothing but confusion. They don’t do much for airflow, and often look like plastic afterthoughts. Some people think they add a “sporty” look, but they only clutter up the vehicle’s design and add unnecessary plastic pieces for zero functionality.

Chrome Everything

Some drivers love chrome, but covering a car with excessive chrome trim is overkill. Chrome reflections can blind other drivers and even create glare for the driver. Plus, it adds unnecessary weight, making it harder to keep clean and more prone to scratches. Over-chromed cars often look less high-end and more like rolling disco balls.

Fake Turbo Whistle

Turbo whistles are gadgets that mimic the sound of a turbocharged engine, often without adding any real performance boost. The whistle attaches to the exhaust to create a fake turbo sound, tricking no one but the driver. This cheap mod doesn’t make the car faster—it just leaves people wondering if something’s wrong under the hood.

Gullwing Doors on Non-Exotic Cars

Gullwing doors look sleek on a supercar, but installing them on a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla? Not so much. These flashy doors complicate getting in and out of regular parking spaces, can break more easily, and add weight. On a non-exotic car, they feel out of place and overly dramatic.

Excessive Subwoofers

A good sound system can enhance the driving experience, but cramming a trunk with oversized subwoofers is impractical. A mod like this often leads to distorted bass and even reduced storage space. Instead of clearer sound, all that extra bass usually results in rattling panels and a headache for everyone within earshot.

Fake Engine Sounds Through Speakers

Some cars use sound enhancement systems to make engines sound louder inside, but aftermarket mods take it a step further by playing fake engine noises through speakers. This doesn’t improve horsepower or performance and feels insincere. Drivers might hear a satisfying roar, but outside, everyone else just sees a stock car pretending to be something it’s not.

Unnecessary Roof Racks

Roof racks are practical for transporting bikes or luggage—when you actually need them. Some people install oversized roof racks just for looks, even when they don’t use them. They add drag, reduce fuel efficiency, and create wind noise. Without the need for hauling gear, they’re a bulky add-on that weighs the car down.

Flashy Underglow Suspension

Suspension mods are typically for handling or ride height adjustment, but adding lights to the suspension? It’s purely for show. This trend illuminates parts no one needs to see, distracting other drivers at night. It doesn’t improve performance or off-road capability, and it often creates a gaudy, over-the-top look that doesn’t fit most vehicles.

Tiny Steering Wheels

Some enthusiasts swap their standard steering wheels for miniature, race-style wheels that look “cool” but reduce control. While they work in tight spaces on a track, in regular driving, tiny wheels limit steering precision and require more force. With these, turning becomes awkward and maneuvering in tight spots can be a pain.

Extreme Low Riders

Lowering a car slightly can improve aerodynamics, but extreme lowering on a street car? It causes more issues than benefits. These cars can’t clear speed bumps and often scrape on normal roads. While the look might appeal to some, ultra-low cars come with plenty of impracticality and limited road access.

Hood Exhaust Stacks

Exhaust stacks look rugged on big rigs, but when they’re sticking out of a truck’s hood, they’re downright puzzling. They reduce visibility, can heat up the hood, and vent exhaust right into the driver’s line of sight. In a regular truck, these stacks serve no real purpose and turn a tough vehicle into something questionable.