10 Popular Cars with Expensive Maintenance Costs

Purchasing a new vehicle is exciting. There is much to learn about all the different makes and models. In addition to asking price, you need to consider fuel efficiency, safety and reliability ratings, resale value, insurance costs (remember insurance!), warranties, and more. In all the excitement of new car shopping, one item often overlooked is vehicle maintenance cost.

Maintenance costs for some vehicle makes and models are far higher than others. You might assume that luxury cars with higher price tags also have higher average car maintenance costs. This is true on the whole, but you might be surprised to learn the most expensive vehicles to maintain.

Look at our top 10 cars or trucks ranked by maintenance costs. We devised our list based on CarEdge data covering 164 vehicle models’ average car maintenance cost over ten years. We ranked them from the most expensive model to maintain to the least. To include information about as many standard makes as possible, each model listed is that manufacturer’s most expensive vehicle to maintain.

In our list, we include the make, model, 10-year average vehicle maintenance cost, the likelihood that the model will need a major repair (of $500 or more) in that time frame and the model’s position on the list of 164. Some manufacturers have multiple models with high maintenance costs.

RAM 2500-5500

Ram’s full-size heavy-duty pickup trucks are genuine workhorses for towing and hauling. They also have the highest maintenance costs of any vehicle we studied over ten years, including several luxury models, like the Porsche Cayenne or the BMW X6.

Ford F-250 - F550 Super Duty

After seven Ram trucks, the Ford super duty pickup truck series F250 - F550 is the next most expensive to maintain, with an average 10-year vehicle maintenance cost of around $15,000. Still, it remains a top choice for heavy-duty commercial use.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD-3500HD

Powerful towing and hauling capabilities combined with a spacious and comfortable interior drive the Chevy Silverado’s popularity. Minor software issues with the infotainment system and occasional reports of transmission hesitancy may arise.

GMC Sierra 2500HD-3500HD

Heavy-duty pickups like the GMC Sierra and those higher on our list are used for towing and hauling in off-road conditions. Maintenance costs rise as drivers consistently stress these vehicles’ engines, transmissions, suspensions, and brakes for work and play.

Jeep Gladiator

This vehicle boasts a unique blend of pickup utility and superior off-road capability. The removable top and doors give the classic military Jeeps the open-air experience. Fold down the windshield for an enhanced off-road experience and better visibility during rock crawling.

Ford Transit Cargo

A stylish blend of comfort and cargo capacity, the Ford Transit Cargo provides robust hauling hand towing with an impressive infotainment system. Recent models have improved upon automatic transmission issues, though some continue.

Chrysler Pacifica

This highly versatile minivan stands out for its stylish design, Stow ‘n Go seating, smooth ride, and family-friendly technology. Hybrid options offer increased fuel economy. Few major issues exist. Routine maintenance costs and occasional electronic glitches are the norm.

Dodge Durango

This sporty SUV admirably balances muscle with family utility. A powerful engine provides excellent towing capacity, a spacious interior, and a user-friendly Uconnect® system. Reliable and hard-working, with some reports of suspension stiffness.

Buick Enclave

Offering a quiet, comfortable ride and sporty appeal, the newest Buick Enclave has mastered its loss of power and transmission issues. The average car maintenance cost remains high for its class.

Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade is highly rated for safety and delivers a smooth ride, easy handling, and an upscale design. Excessive wind noise at high speeds, shuddering while driving, and occasional electrical system issues factor into the maintenance costs.

Most Expensive Cars to Repair

The most expensive cars to repair are heavy-duty pickup trucks and luxury cars. The high maintenance costs are based on the extraordinary stresses the trucks face and the premium parts and specialty skills required by luxury vehicles.

Tips for Reducing Maintenance Costs

The car that requires no maintenance does not exist (yet). Tending to small preventative maintenance chores keeps bigger problems from developing. Keeping up with the following tasks prevents damage and helps to keep your maintenance costs down:

• Keep your spare tire properly inflated, and check it monthly
• Change the oil every 5,000 miles
• Replace the brake pads every time you change the oil
• Keep the battery clean, and test it twice yearly
• Replace the cabin air filter every year or 12,000 miles
• Replace your windshield wipers, and check them every change of season
• Rotate the tires every 3,000 - 5,000 miles
• Check the shocks and suspension system every 20,000 – 30,000 miles
• Check and top off the coolant in late spring and late fall
• Change the spark plugs every 30,000 miles
• Inspect the belts and hoses. Replace the serpentine belt every 40,000 miles and a timing belt at 60,000 miles
• Check your headlights, turn signals, brake light, and parking light with a friend every month
• Get an emissions inspection annually

Routine maintenance may be expensive and tedious to perform but it’s the best way to avoid costly repairs.

Car Maintenance FAQ’s

The best way to avoid sky-high repairs is to choose a trustworthy mechanic, keep up with routine maintenance, and research before purchasing.

Which car brand is hardest to maintain?

What makes a car hard to maintain is often the knuckle-scraping tight spaces into which critical nuts and bolts are located. Often, this requires large, unrelated sections of the body or undercarriage to be removed to access the part you’re working on. This drives up the maintenance costs, too. Compact cars and those designed for high performance, like Porsches, tend to be the biggest offenders.

Which standard car has the lowest maintenance cost?

Electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts than standard, gasoline-powered cars. Fewer moving parts translate to fewer repairs and lower maintenance costs. Among standard cars, the least expensive to maintain is a Toyota Camry. It’s also one of the easiest vehicles to maintain . Many Toyota models, standard and EV, rank among the cars with the lowest maintenance costs.

Are Prius maintenance costs expensive?

The Toyota Prius has the lowest car maintenance cost of any standard vehicle, with an average of $4,008 over ten years. Only the Tesla Model 3 beats it at $3,587 for the same period.

What is the average BMW annual maintenance cost?

Among luxury car manufacturers, BMW has the second most expensive average car maintenance cost. Over ten years, you can expect to pay about $19,312 to maintain a BMW. On a Porsche, that average cost is $22,075.

California Auto Insurance from Wawanesa

Researching car makes and models for the lowest maintenance costs is critical to investing wisely. But even more important to remember — the greatest expense is getting into an accident before you get the car covered by your insurance. Never drive without sufficient coverage — not even to drive it home from the dealer. While some insurance companies offer a grace period of a week to 30 days for adding a new vehicle to your existing insurance policy, not all companies do. A collision in a brand-new car can total $50,000 in damage in a hurry. Without active car insurance, that’s entirely out of pocket, on top of your new car payments.

Car insurance is a necessity to protect your investment and your financial health. You owe it to yourself to choose an insurance company with the expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction that ensures you’ll always be treated fairly. Wawanesa specializes in covering California and Oregon motorists, delivering award-winning customer service for four years running. Why not contact your friendly Wawanesa car insurance representative to learn what we can do for you?