It is frustrating when the car battery dies or stops powering the vehicle. But the situation becomes worse when you choose the wrong Car battery brand. As a result, your vehicle has a short lifespan and develops other issues. The most common are Dim headlights, overheating, Slow engine crank, Engine backfiring etc.
That’s why experts suggest inspecting vital things when selecting a car battery. For example, the battery’s physical size, reserve power, correct voltage, battery terminals, and others. Even if you ensure the things still, selecting the right car battery brand is also vital. Indeed, there are many Car battery brands available. Some of them are the best, but a few are the worst that must be avoided.
So this guide explains Car battery brands to avoid in 2023. All these companies get the least positive reviews depending on their battery performance, lifespan, and power. Experts recognized these companies as the worst Car battery brands in the market. So discover the brands and save your time, money, and effort.
6 Worst Car Battery Brands to Avoid in 2024
Below we give you 6 Car battery brands to avoid. All these brands are considered the worst based on customer reviews and reliability scores. The following are Optima, AC Delco, LifePo4 and others. Dropdown to understand why their car batteries failed in the market.
1. Optima
Many car enthusiasts will be surprised to hear that Optima, one of the leading car battery manufacturers, landed on the worst list. A few years back, everything was top-rated due to their six-pack design, spiral-wound cells, and affordability. Since the brand shifted its manufacturing unit from the USA to Mexico, its product trend hit a low.
Once optima batteries offer significant performance improvement in various vehicles. But now, customers complain the battery struggles to hold charge. Many reputed YouTubers like Scotty Kilmer deliver detailed YouTube videos informing how Optima batteries drive from best to worst. Most importantly, their Red Top and Yellow Top models witnessed a sharp fall in the market.
If we conclude optima car battery drop in the market, it will be.
High price: Without focusing on quality, the brand continuously increases the price of its car batteries.
Lack of quality: Optima brands failed to maintain their product quality over the years.
Bad customer service: many customers complain about Optima’s poor customer service because they failed to get warranty replacement.
2. AC Delco
Another famous name in the worst car battery brand is AC Delco. This brand also stands as one of the top distributors of a series of car batteries. Indeed, they are a third-party retailer because their products are made from Clarios. Recent data and customer reviews show some AC Delco battery models involve poor performance and shorter lifespans.
Additionally, their price skyrocketed without being consistent in quality. As AC Delco is a third-party retailer, you can easily find similar models from other brands like Duralast and AutoZone. You pay a lower price than AC Delco car batteries. It is possible because the company takes products from Clarios manufacturer, who also makes batteries for other brands.
That’s why people started losing interest and trust in the AC Delco brand. This brand remains among the worst car battery brands in the market today.
3. LifePo4 Lithium Iron Phosphate
Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries from LifePo4 are another Car battery brand to avoid. Indeed, the battery isn’t recommended for the average motor vehicle. Instead, you should carry these batteries for electric cars or boats.
The Lithium Iron Phosphate composition batteries are considered the least power sources for motor vehicles. They mostly failed to crank your car engine, specifically in cold temperatures. Instead, you can use Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries in trolling motors and boats where strong cranking doesn’t need to kickstart the engine.
Whenever you visit the market for car batteries, ensure the label for “Lithium Iron Phosphate.” Generally, these batteries aren’t designed for traditional motor vehicles.
Besides compatibility, many other reasons for avoiding LifePo4’s car batteries are also available. For example, Lithium Iron Phosphate composition batteries are more expensive than others. Additionally, these models won’t be easily available in the market.
4. Exide
Have you heard about Exide batteries? Definitely. This is one of the oldest and most reputed battery manufacturers since 1888. So, they have a strong grip on the battery manufacturing market. Still, some of their car battery models won’t stand on the market demand.
Many customers complain that some Exide car batteries fail to last longer than they promise. Additionally, only some of their battery models perform well in different temperatures. Over the years, the brand was also criticized for violating environmental regulations.
Many car enthusiasts agreed that some Exide car batteries charge higher prices than other brands. Warranty replacement of defective products has also become difficult with this company.
In short, Exide isn’t the worst car battery brand, but some of their models failed to withstand it.
5. DieHard Advanced Gold 50748
We are not saying the entire DieHard brand is worse for car batteries. Instead, their Advanced Gold 50748 failed to perform in most traditional vehicles. Many customers complain this battery unit died within just seven weeks.
However, DieHard Advanced Gold 50748 is a mid-range AMG battery. Expert doubts on quality standards for these battery models. So, avoid such a power unit that will only perform for a short time in your vehicle.
6. EverStart
Final worst Car battery brand to avoid is Everstart. This is a parent brand of Walmart known to provide affordable products. Many users complain about the quality standard of Everstart car batteries. Unreliability and short lifespan are also vital factors people notice in these power units.
Everstat’s low-cost battery may provide you with decent performance for years. But it is recommended to buy cheap quality batteries for your car. Indeed, the car battery is a vital part of the vehicle. Lack of power supply can damage internal units badly.
Signs of Worst Car Batteries to Look for
Above are a few of the worst car battery brands people should avoid. Indeed, hundreds of companies are available that provide low-quality batteries that perform short in the vehicle. That’s why it is crucial to understand the common signs of the worst car batteries. Below are the tips for you.
Inconsistent quality
The first and most common sign is inconsistent quality. Suppose you select a brand that continuously provides defective car batteries. This is a major red flag for a car battery brand. You should check the quality of the product by reading reviews, market updates, information, and others.
Slow cranking
A potent cranking to the engine is required to kick-start a traditional vehicle. Many car batteries include low Low Cold-Cranking Amps. These battery units mostly failed to start the car engine, specifically in cold temperatures. Brands that continuously manufacture low Cold-Cranking Amps should be avoided for your car. Choosing a car battery with a minimum 500-600 CCA rating is recommended.
Shorter warranty
Another factor you should consider is a shorter warranty. Brands that offer limited warranty periods deliver low-quality products. This indicates that the company needs to be more confident in its car battery’s performance. So, checking warranty and replacement terms before selecting the product is crucial.
More negative reviews
Negative reviews are a strong indicator of the worst car battery brands. There are several reviews available for specific car batteries. You should navigate customers’ complaints and reviews to understand if your selected battery performs on your vehicle.
Other signs
If you buy low-quality car batteries, you should inspect a few things to keep or replace them. First, check the battery terminals and cables to see any corrosion or broken parts. Secondly, ensure that the battery smells like rotten eggs, which is a sign of leakage.
Conclusion
Remember, the above recommendations are based on customer reviews, reputations, and reliability in the market. Most brands have good quality car batteries except for some specific units. Before selecting a car battery brand, you should always check reviews, customer opinion, warranty, and other factors.
