Cars that are considered unreliable, but with the right configuration, can be pretty reliable?

I was just thinking about how some cars are unreliable due to common transmission or engine failures, but they have several transmissions and engines to choose from (like a Focus or Fiesta with the DCT vs a 5 speed manual). What cars kind of fit this criteria? Also, what about the other way around? Like how 2000s Accords with a V6 ate the transmissions, but 4 cylinder models ran forever and a half.