40 Car Fails That Are So Bad They Deserve To Be Framed In A Museum
Cars are marvels of engineering. But when people get creative without the necessary skill, the results are… memorable. Whether it’s a spoiler made of plywood, a car door held shut by duct tape, or a DIY convertible that really shouldn’t exist, these mechanical missteps are so bad, they circle back around to iconic.
Grumpy Sharks proudly presents 40 hilarious, head-scratching, and sometimes terrifying car fails that deserve to be preserved—not on the road, but in a hall of fame dedicated to questionable choices and audacious confidence. Because when it comes to automotive design, some people clearly missed the exit.
#1. My car got struck by lightning today
Source: opihinalu
#2. Cars after freezing rain in Vladivostok, Russia
Source: VforthHorsemanV
#3. I was gone for a month a half and left my car outside. This is what Arizona pack rats have done to my engine bay
Source: LawBobLawLoblaw
#4. Neighbor owns a Ferrari Testarossa, my dream car. It appears to have exploded last night. And took part of his house with it 😞
Source: Grootdrew
#5. Came out of class on Saturday to my car being used as a seesaw. I had wheel locks too.
Source: raptorclub
Every jaw-dropping image in this list was unearthed from Reddit goldmines like r/JustRolledIntoTheShop and r/ShittyCarMods. These subreddits are dedicated to documenting car disasters in the wild—from professional mechanic nightmares to overly ambitious home garage projects gone rogue.
Together, they offer a never-ending stream of lifted trunks, absurd spoilers, melted bumpers, and mysterious fluids. Think of it as an art exhibit curated by chaos and duct tape.
We, Grumpy Sharks, handpicked the best of the worst. The boldest. The most bizarre. The kind of car fails that demand applause, a camera, and a gentle reminder to call a real mechanic next time.
#6. Newly wedded in front of their burning car
Source: Ste93E
#7. My mom left her car for 2 months, came back to it covered in mold
Source: FeaRoFDerbi
#8. Took car to body shop to get a cracked bumper fixed. While it was at the body shop overnight, someone broke in. They got the keys and decided to use it as a battering ram through the garage door to steal other cars. Worst part is, the bumper is still cracked.
Source: EverlastingBastard
#9. Guy’s neighbors left their car windows open overnight
Source: Reddit User
#10. Someone stole the doors off a neighbors car last night
Source: timboh
We’ve all been there. You’re at a red light, and the car next to you has three different wheel sizes and a hood held down with bungee cords. Or you pass a truck bed made of plywood and prayer.
These fails don’t just make you laugh. They make you question how that thing passed inspection—and if you should be driving anywhere near it.
#11. Nope. They can keep the car
Source: Scaulbylausis
#12. Just felt like I forgot something last night in my car. The first time there was more ice inside my car than outside it. Forgot I didn’t take this can into work, and well the Midwest is gonna do its thing. The way the top landed perfectly on the dashboard was fun though.
Source: gldnplr
#13. My engine blew randomly and my car caught fire today when merging onto the highway.
Source: Reddit User
#14. A plane above Meersse, The Netherlands, lost debris after the engine caught fire. A piece landed in this car and a woman got injured.
Source: koekoen1
#15. I forgot the Pepsi was in the back of my car, and it was -16 Fahrenheit night before last.
Source: OneEyedWilson
I once saw a guy driving with a rear bumper made entirely of pool noodles. Not painted to look like metal—just pool noodles. Bright neon green, flapping in the wind like streamers. He waved at me.
To this day, I’m not sure if it was genius or madness. Probably both. But it’s burned into my brain like a check engine light that refuses to go away.
#16. My house just fell on my car
Source: stevegeorge1
#17. Door handle broke off at the gas station… With the car running.
Source: Lovesliesbleeding
#18. My uncle’s car this morning
Source: Reddit User
#19. My car this morning :/
Source: Exquisitefish
#20. Some random keyed my car
Source: nandudu
According to design psychologist Donald Norman, people respond more emotionally to things that are almost functional but clearly not. It’s the visual version of hearing a wrong note in a song—it grabs your attention and refuses to let go.
Car fails hit the same part of our brain that enjoys blooper reels. It’s chaos, but with spark plugs.
#21. A recent graduate bought his first car. All the tires of the new car got stolen.
Source: anti_fragile12
#22. Struggling to make ends meet but decided a camping trip would be cheap fun.
Oak tree had different plans. Wife and I decided to take a camping trip in a national forest about three hours south of where we live because it’d be relaxing, cheap and fun. The first day was great, hiked in a couple miles and set up camp and explored. The second day it was storming pretty hard but we weathered it. The third day we packed up and hiked out and it started pouring on us as we hiked.
After we made it to the service road and were making our way to the truck, someone passed by and said something along the lines of “haha hope that wasn’t your truck folks” and kept going. We didn’t know what they were talking about and kept on our way. When we got back, we found that an old oak tree had fallen and crushed the truck, leaving us stranded.
We managed to have the truck freed and towed but it’s now two days later and we’re still trying to come to terms with it all. Painfully waiting to see what we get from insurance but as we all know this market is rough and I just know it won’t be enough to cover another car. At least we weren’t in it.
Source: Kharilan
#23. Car broke down after trying to start it. Opened the hood only to find countless shrimp.
Source: Reddit User
#24. Pumpkin shot 900 ft into a car at a local pumpkin launching event
Source: turnip_for_what_
#25. Weather patterns don’t care what kind of car you drive
Source: geek_fest
There’s something universal about a broken bumper being held on with zip ties. No language barrier. No explanation needed. Just pure “oh no” energy.
These photos hit because they balance absurdity and effort. Someone tried. That’s what makes them unforgettable.
Psychologists call this benign violation theory—when something is wrong but safe, it makes us laugh. A wing mirror made of a fork? Perfect example.
#26. Saw this in a car window on my way to class
Source: JayTongue
#27. So the car I was test driving and really liked went up in flames…. I was test driving a 2020 Ford Escape and really liked it. When I put it in reverse we heard a clunk noise and smoke started billowing from the hood. 2 minutes later it was engulfed in flames….
Source: mightymattii
#28. Left a sparkling water in the car during winter in Minneapolis
Source: ghrarhg
#29. “Hi, I’m calling to start a claim -my car is flooded… oh, I don’t have flood coverage? In that case, it’s on fire”
Source: starbug311
We admire ingenuity. But some things—like brake systems and seat belts—should never be improvised.
These car fails reveal a bigger cultural trend: the rise of the “good enough” solution in a world where professional repair is often out of reach. It’s both funny and a little terrifying.
In some ways, it’s a portrait of modern survival—told in zip ties and misaligned rims.
#30. Dude, where’s my car? Lake Tahoe. 2023.
Source: NeverDidLearn
#31. We think someone set our car on fire. We heard a pop, ran outside, and the car was on fire. That tire was our only warning from inside the house. It started on the rear passenger where the gas tank is not. Sent it out to a couple people since the cops did not respond and wouldn’t come out after I called the non emergency line once the fire department left. No one was physically harmed. This sucks.
Source: AvidArcher7
#32. A month ago a water main ruptured outside my apartment building and wasn’t shut off for 13 hours. Finally now they’re towing cars out of our underground parking, and this is what every one looks like. Almost a month to the day from the ruptured water main, and finally they’re towing our cars out from the underground parking lot. ~100 or more vehicles down there. I still haven’t been able to access the bike room or the storage area to see what the rest of my stuff looks like, but the word everyone keeps throwing around is “tomb-like”.
Source: ContributionOwn9860
#33. A gallon jar of honey cracked and spilled in my friend’s car the other day
Source: harrietpa
#34. My dad got paint sprayed on his 2-week-old car from a garbage truck’s press
Source: ZehParaYT
#35. It was my last day of work before preparing to go back to college. I stuck around for one more week than my other seasonal co-workers to make a bit of extra cash. While I was mowing my last section, the blades launched a rock directly into my car’s window. There goes that time and money.
Source: tm6teen
Let’s be honest—some of these ridiculous rigs do technically work. The car moves. It turns. It even (somehow) stops. So who are we to judge?
Here’s the truth: form and function aren’t always friends. But when they clash this hard, the result is comedy gold.
#36. Ex boyfriend found my car. Slashed 3 tires, walked all over my car(sunroof deformed, roof dented), carved “bitch” into my hood, broke drive side mirror and destroyed my windshield(:
Source: asheybaby273
#37. Came back to check the house after the neighborhood flooded from the hurricane. Wasn’t expecting my car to look like this…
Source: Mangofert1
#38. Someone broke into my car while I was at work
Source: flyingwilderbeast
#39. Went to take my classic car for a spin. Discovered the interior is completely covered in mold.
Source: YarraMates
#40. Car after tarmac was being laid on the floor above in a car park
Source: JRabone
And there you have it—40 car fails that prove not everyone should be trusted with a motor vehicle. From parking jobs that defy logic to crashes that seem like they belong in a cartoon, these disasters remind us that driving is truly an art… and some people are definitely not artists.
Now it’s your turn! Have you ever witnessed a car fail so bad it deserved to be framed in a museum? Or maybe you’ve had your own unfortunate moment behind the wheel (we won’t judge… much). Share your funniest or most painful car fail stories in the comments!
