16 Car Brands That Make Maintenance Costs a Money Pit
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of buying a new car. In addition to that new car smell, there’s the joy of not worrying about the maintenance costs that accompany used or older cars. At least, you would think.
Some vehicles, no matter how new they are, become headaches because of the cost of maintaining them. That takes the joy out of owning a car. If peace of mind is what you’re seeking in the car, as well as giving your wallet a break, you’ll want to think twice about these brands.
1. Audi
As a luxury vehicle with a big price tag, it’s understandable why buyers would expect higher quality, performance, and reliability from Audi. The automaker fails to meet those expectations consistently and has a high annual maintenance price tag of $987.
Over the years, different Audi models have had more than their share of problems. Who can forget how the Audi 5000s would accelerate on their own? Since then, there have been issues with the transmission and electrical system, just to name a few.
2. BMW
Foreign cars are supposed to be superior to domestic models. Yet BMW can’t shake off its reputation as an unreliable car with a long history of performance issues. Its $968 maintenance cost each year does little to alleviate any worries about the car.
Aesthetically speaking, BMWs are gorgeous cars, but the problems under the hood negate the good feelings that come from its appearance. Oil leaks, electrical system problems, and cooling system failures are three of the more common deficiencies reported in BMWs.
3. Cadillac
The Cadillac name has been synonymous with American luxury for decades. Its name is even used to describe other luxury items like the “Cadillac of computers.” One would expect the vehicle’s quality would be superior with that reputation.
Cadillacs have a history of bad construction, including weak suspension components, electrical system malfunctions, transmission woes, and oil leaks. Those aren’t exactly what you’d expect in a luxury car, but the $1,100 annual maintenance cost isn’t surprising.
4. Chevrolet
The all-American car maker produces classics like the Camaro and Corvette, two of the world’s most recognized cars. Chevrolet is also known for manufacturing vehicles with lots of issues, which helps explain its $887 yearly maintenance cost.
From the Cruze to the Trailblazer, Chevys are rife with mechanical flaws that minimize the driving experience. These include the engine, transmission, electrical system, suspension, steering, brake system, and the cooling system.
5. Dodge
The Dodge name has been around for decades. It has produced popular vehicles like the Charger and Challenger muscle cars, the Durango sport utility vehicle, the Caravan minivan, and, of course, the Viper super sports car. Depending on the model and year, the average yearly maintenance is about $969.
Despite these venerated brands, Dodge has coughed up some clunkers, like the Dynasty. The late 1980s to early 1990s car looked like a million bucks, but drove like anything but. Engine stalling was a common complaint with that model. Their newest car, the 2024 Hornet, is already under recall, which isn’t a great start.
6. Ford
Ford has manufactured numerous vehicles that are well-received by consumers, including the Focus, Explorer, Expedition, Bronco, and F150. Several of their cars are reliable performers, but others have also required a lot of repairs due to design flaws. Expect to spend around $775 a year on maintenance.
Fords have been reported to have defects, including transmissions that lurch even after the vehicle has been brought to a complete stop, oil leaks, numerous engine problems, including blown head gaskets, rusting, and deficiencies in the paint jobs.
7. Infiniti
The Infiniti is one of the sleekest luxury cars on the market today. Its look instantly catches the eye and captures the imagination. An Infiniti is a statement car, no question. Beneath its amazing look lie several reliability issues that lead to higher maintenance costs of approximately $872 a year.
A defect in the electrical system, specifically the failure of the crankshaft position sensor, results in the engine not turning over. Steering racks with leaks that require costly replacement, dashboards that degrade easily, and transmission failures mean it takes a lot of money to maintain and repair.
8. Jaguar
A Jaguar is a status symbol, and driving one makes a clear statement: Look at me. The round lines of a Jaguar’s frame are reminiscent of its feline namesake. Owning a Jag has an elevated maintenance cost of $1,300 a year.
The defects with Jaguars that are reported most often include any number of problems with the engine, noisy to delayed braking systems, electrical system troubles in older models, airbags that don’t deploy, and transmissions that fail to shift.
9. Jeep
There’s a running joke about how the maintenance costs of this vehicle are so high that the letters Jeep mean “just empty every pocket.” Jeeps are some of the coolest-looking vehicles on the road, but their reliability ratings are quite low. Jeep has an annual maintenance cost of $634.
Depending on the specific model, Jeeps are known for vehicle transmission issues, electrical system malfunctions, and the notorious death wobble due to suspension deficiencies. Jeep is an iconic brand, but its problems remain long.
10. Land Rover
Land Rovers have long been known as one of the most unreliable luxury sport utility vehicles ever made. This is surprising because of how much they cost; they’re not cheap to own. Routine maintenance runs about $9,000 a year.
According to one report, a software error mistakenly triggered a false warning about the air suspension and other minor glitches. These glitches mean visits to the dealer or repair shop, which can add up to a fair amount of money.
11. Lincoln
Like Cadillac, the Lincoln brand is known for its luxury model of vehicles. They’re big cars that are easy to navigate and excel in the number of safety features they have. Lincoln is generally a solid car, but its maintenance cost of $879 a year is higher compared to other brands.
For all of its attributes, Lincoln isn’t without its share of flaws. It’s reported to experience leaks in its air suspension and, even worse, coolant leaks, which can damage an engine. Engine overheating and shutting down were other common complaints.
12. Mercedes-Benz
With an annual maintenance cost of $908, Mercedes-Benz is an expensive car to own. When you think about luxury cars, the name Mercedes-Benz comes to mind first. It’s the foreign equivalent of the Cadillac when it comes to name recognition.
The German vehicle is generally reliable, but it has some deficiencies, notably premature timing chain wear, air suspension failures, oil leaks, and engine component failures.
13. Porsche
No matter how you pronounce it, “porsh” or “por-sha,” there’s no disputing the status symbol these vehicles are. As stunning as they are, these statement cars have persistent reliability issues that make them less than reliable.
Porsche owners reported oil leaks, the check engine light going on, low battery power, the air oil separators of the emission system, and coolant leaks due to bearing water pump failures. The annual maintenance cost is a whopping $1,192.
14. RAM
The popular line of RAM vehicles spun off from Dodge to a separate label under the Chrysler brand, which Stellantis owns. RAMs, especially their 1500 pickup truck model, are seen as reliable vehicles, but the $1,172 yearly maintenance cost is among the highest.
Exhaust manifold bolt breakage, multiple coolant leaks, defective rear window seal causing water leaks, and vehicle stalling or not starting because of a cam sensor failure are some of the more frequent complaints about this model.
15. Range Rover
Like its sister vehicle, the Land Rover, Range Rovers have a yearly maintenance cost of $9,000. Although they are prestigious sport utility vehicles, they also have a reputation for frequently needing repairs.
Among the more notable complaints about Range Rovers are:
- Expensive air suspension repairs.
- Oil leaks from various parts of the powertrain.
- Various electrical issues.
- Infotainment systems working inconsistently.
16. Volvo
Volvos have a well-deserved reputation for reliability. When was the last time you saw a Volvo broken down on the side of the road? They’re solid vehicles, except that they have a rapid depreciation rate.
Owners have to contend with the $1,051 annual maintenance cost in addition to the quick drop in value. Volvo is susceptible to certain mechanical defects, including electrical system and cooling fan issues, excessive amounts of oil, and transmission failures.
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