Shop notes
The federal data, read by hand
Complaint files, recall campaigns and manufacturer bulletins, read the way a mechanic reads them. Every number in here is pulled from a named federal source, and we show our work.
Field guide · Updated 2026-09-30
How to Read an NHTSA Complaint Before You Buy
We pulled the 100 newest complaints for the five most-shopped 2017 used cars. What owners report is not what buyers fear. How to read the file yourself.
Buying guide · Updated 2026-09-29
The 5 Worst Used European Cars (A Mechanic’s List)
Five used European cars where the repair bill swallows the purchase price — BMW E65 7-series, Range Rover L322, VW Touareg, N20 BMWs, Audi 2.0T — with the numbers.
Buying guide · Updated 2026-09-29
The 5 Best Used European Cars (A Mechanic’s List)
Five used European cars that earn their reputation in the repair data — Volvo 240, Porsche 944, Boxster 987, VW TDI ALH, Mercedes W124 — with each one’s real weak point.
Buying guide · Updated 2026-09-29
The 10 Worst Used Cars to Avoid (Mechanic’s List, 2026)
Ten used cars a master technician would not touch in 2026 — the documented failure, the mileage where it lands, and what the repair costs. Sourced, not vibes.
Buying guide · Updated 2026-09-29
The 10 Best Used Cars to Buy (Mechanic’s List, 2026)
Ten used cars a master technician would actually buy in 2026 — with the one weak point each of them still has. No marketing filler, sourced failures and price bands.
Data study · Updated 2026-09-29
The 2013 Ford Focus Transmission Ford Never Recalled
1,053 owners filed complaints on the 2013 Focus DPS6 — median failure at 37,000 miles, TSBs on file, no recall ever issued. We read the whole file.