Ford has made some of the most iconic vehicles of all time. There’s the Mustang, the F-series of trucks, and many others. Of course, the blue oval still makes some of the best cars and SUVs to buy all these years later. However, this distinction doesn’t mean every Ford car, truck, or SUV is perfect. In fact, some of Ford’s models were downright awful. Like many bad cars, some on this list had serious transmission problems. Spoiler alert: this list includes the Ford Tempo.

Here are three cars Ford would probably like people to forget.

The Ford Tempo wasn’t one of the best cars to buy

The Ford Tempo isn’t one of the most well-regarded Ford vehicles. Despite being popular for a time, many would say that it’s actually among the worst. This is the case because the little car offered poor reliability and lackluster performance. Additionally, it had some notable transmission problems. A downsized compact vehicle, the Ford Tempo hit the market for the 1984 model year. According to Cars.com, the automaker put the Tempo out to pasture a decade later. 

Nowadays, this is one of the Ford vehicles that the world has mostly forgotten. This is so much the case that they aren’t even a part of the conversation regarding the best or worst used cars to buy. However, if Ford wants to bring back an affordable nameplate, the Tempo may not be the worst option if they handle it properly. 

EcoSport

The Ford EcoSport is another of Ford’s less-than-reliable vehicles. Sure, the Blue Oval has made worse cars, but the EcoSport is one that most wouldn’t wish on their worst enemies. The Ford EcoSport name has actually been around since 2003. However, the U.S. didn’t get the ill-fated SUV until 2018. Then, the automaker discontinued it a couple of years later, in 2022, due to low sales. 

So, what made the Ford EcoSport so bad, especially for U.S. buyers? In a nutshell, it had quite a few issues. Transmission problems were common, and the SUV also had engine malfunctions. Because the EcoSport is so recent, it’s common to see them on the road today. Still, it may not be one of the best used SUVs to buy, especially when there are so many other great Ford vehicles. 

The Ford C-Max is one of its worst vehicles

When it comes to bad Ford vehicles, the C-Max is one that no one can forget. Not only was this multi-purpose vehicle not really a looker, but it was also not known for reliability. Ford made the car from 2003 until 2019 when it was discontinued due to low sales. Some of its common issues include various water leaks, excessive noise, and less-than-advertised fuel economy.