Have You Seen These?
Bad design has a way of sneaking up on you. You might not notice it at first, but once you do, it's all you see. Even though they may seem insignificant to the overall design of the car, tail lights are no exception! Not to mention, they're all you look at when stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. These particularly egregious examples have annoyed or just baffled people for years. Here's a look at the worst tail light choices ever made.
1. Pontiac Aztek
While the vehicle is infamous for its overall awkward look, the vertical taillamps were particularly out of place. They sliced through the rear end like bookends that didn't match the shelf. The shape felt strange and completely ignored the flow of the car.
2. Chevrolet SSR
Something is frustrating about seeing a retro-styled car try to modernize one too many details. The SSR aimed for vintage truck vibes with a curvy silhouette, but its taillights were boxy and bland. They looked like borrowed pieces from a basic sedan, not something worthy of a bold design experiment.
3. Nissan Juke
From above, they look like angry eyebrows. The Juke's upper taillights stretched up the rear fenders to defy convention and symmetry. It was a move meant to be edgy, maybe even sporty. Instead, they gave the back end a confused expression. Some compared it to insect eyes; others just asked why.
4. Chrysler Sebring
The early 2000s weren't kind to car design. The Sebring's taillights, shaped like stretched-out almonds, seemed like a remnant from a different decade. They didn't complement the body lines and lacked any defining character. When parked next to competitors, the Sebring's rear looked outdated before it even hit the road.
5. Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
Tail lights aren't supposed to look like punctuation marks, but the Malibu Maxx made them resemble commas in a sentence gone wrong. Their odd curvature wrapped unevenly around the sides, creating an off-balance effect. The placement is set too high, too bulky, too out of rhythm.
6. Buick Rendezvous
Picture a minivan pretending to be an SUV, then add taillights that don't know what shape they want to be. The Rendezvous featured chunky, oval-esque lights with vague edges and zero personality. They were too large for the space they occupied and too plain to offer contrast.
7. Jeep Cherokee
Minimalism doesn't always mean elegance. Jeep's decision to use a razor-thin taillight on the 2014 Cherokee felt bold at the time, but left many confused. The slim LED line above a larger cluster made it seem like two designs were fused without agreement.
8. Scion XB Brick
A car shaped like a toaster deserves lights with a bit more effort. The second-gen Scion XB carried a boxy design that didn't bother many until you looked at the tail lights. They were brick-like in shape and spirit, with no real attempt to soften or complement the rest of the body.
9. Ford Taurus Third Gen
History isn't always kind, and the third-gen Taurus is proof. Its massive tail lights ran across the back like a red plastic band, evoking memories of cassette players and flip phones. While some call it nostalgic, others recall how the lights faded unevenly over time.
10. Mitsubishi Eclipse 2006
Sharp car. Round lights. That mismatch alone sums up the 2006 Eclipse. The tail lights bulged out from an otherwise sporty frame, which gave the back end a cartoonish look. While the Eclipse aimed to appeal to younger buyers, the rear end made it harder to take it seriously.
11. Cadillac CTS Wagon
"Luxury meets Lego blocks" isn't a compliment. The CTS Wagon tried to blend class and utility, but the narrow taillights stood out awkwardly. Stretching from bumper to roofline, they interrupted the sleek profile. They were distinctive, yes, but not in a flattering way.
12. Hyundai Veloster
It felt like Hyundai wanted to impress everyone at once. The Veloster's rear light assembly was partly asymmetric and partly over-styled. While the front of the car aimed for sleekness and sportiness, the back got overly complicated. Sharp edges and a strange visual weight distribution left viewers unsure where to look.
Guillaume Vachey from Chalon sur Saone, France on Wikimedia
13. Chevrolet HHR
The HHR's rear looked like it borrowed a design cue from a delivery van and dressed it up for Halloween. The tail lights were too high and too small for the wide body below. Inspired by retro panel vans, the look missed the mark by focusing on nostalgia instead of proportion.
14. Honda Crosstour
Awkward from almost every angle, the Crosstour's rear lights couldn't save the back end from feeling unfinished. Slanted and stretched across a sharply sloping rear, they highlighted the odd shape rather than hiding it. While Honda pushed for a crossover identity, the tail lights betrayed the car's indecision.
15. Dodge Avenger
It has an aggressive name and bland lighting. The Dodge Avenger had a rear design that promised attitude, but the taillights told a different story. Too safe. Too plastic. They lacked presence and flair, so the car's back end looked more like a rental sedan than a road warrior. It was all bark, no glow.
16. Fiat Multipla
Rarely does one car stir so much design debate. The Multipla's entire appearance sparked confusion, and the taillights were no exception. Squat and poorly integrated, they looked like they belonged on a cheaper vehicle. Their placement didn't help either, making the car seem even shorter and wider than it already was.
17. Suzuki X-90
The X-90 was a two-seater SUV coupe that defied logic. Its tail lights followed suit, stuck awkwardly between playful and plain. Mounted high on a stubby rear, they resembled cheap aftermarket parts more than factory equipment. They lacked both style and identity, like they were pulled from a bin labeled "generic."
18. Kia Amanti
Opulence was the aim, but exaggeration was the result. The Amanti's chrome-ringed taillights were overly ornate and oddly shaped. They tried to emulate European luxury but ended up feeling forced and out of place. The result looked more like costume jewelry than a refined design touch.
19. Subaru Tribeca
There's a reason the first-generation Tribeca got a facelift quickly. Its tail lights, curving far into the rear quarter panels, gave it an alien-like stare from the back. They clashed with the soft lines of the body and made the rear look puffed out.
20. Lincoln MKT
Big cars often get big lighting, but the MKT's taillight design crossed into excess. A full-width bar connected both sides, which isn't a problem on its own, but the execution felt clumsy. The light looked glued on, like an afterthought trying to follow a trend. Instead of sophistication, it delivered bulk.
