Buying a car in retirement isn’t just about style or performance; it’s about long-term value and reliability. With a fixed income and fewer daily driving needs, retirees should prioritize vehicles that are affordable to maintain over time. Unfortunately, some popular car brands come with surprisingly high upkeep costs that can drain your savings.
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If you want to protect your budget and peace of mind, consider not just the cost of your new car, but also the cost to keep it running through your retirement. According to CarEdge, these are the top eight most expensive car brands to maintain along with some of their pricier 2025 models.
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Ram
You might have favored certain makes and models in the past, but now that you’ve entered a new chapter in your life, it might be time to reevaluate. The industry average for maintenance costs for popular brands is $8,303, making Ram’s over $20,000 estimate a steep bill to consider. Moreover, CarEdge found that there is a 68% chance that your Ram will need a major repair within 10 years, which is considerably worse — over 43% worse — than other auto manufacturers studied.
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Ram models: $21,595
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Ram 3500 10-year maintenance costs: $27,445
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Ram 2500 10-year maintenance costs: $27,423
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Ram 1500 10-year maintenance costs: $19,357
Jeep
It’s wise to research car maintenance costs, so you don’t accidentally buy a new car that requires pricey upkeep that will eat into your fixed income and Social Security benefits. Jeeps are often on many mechanics’ lists of car models to avoid due to their higher than average 10-year maintenance and repair costs. With a jeep, there is a 32% chance your vehicle will need a major repair within the first 10 years of ownership, whereas the industry average sits at a little over 24%. Here are a few of the pricier options to maintain:
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Jeep models: $11,690
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Jeep Gladiator 10-year maintenance costs: $12,679
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Jeep Grand Wagoneer L/ Jeep Grand Wagoneer 10-year maintenance costs: $12,375/ $12,269
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Jeep Wrangler 10-year maintenance costs: $11,664
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Jeep Grand Cherokee 10-year maintenance costs: $11,217
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Chrysler
When you are budgeting out your monthly expenses in retirement, you plan on gas and insurance costs for your car, but excessive maintenance may put you over what you have allotted. If you decide to purchase a Chrysler, you’ll have to factor in maintenance costs that are $3,064 higher than the average. This is in addition to the 32% chance of your car needing a major repair. Here are a few specific models you may want to dodge in retirement:
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Chrysler models: $11,367
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Chrysler Pacifica 10-year maintenance costs: $11,520
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Chrysler Voyager 10-year maintenance costs: $11,207
Dodge
If you want to be both fiscally and frugally responsible as a retiree, make sure you don’t invest in cars that will cost you more than just standard wear and tear on your wallet. The $11,352 average maintenance and repair cost for Dodge vehicles is $3,049 over the industry average, meaning retirees will have to account for that added expense when budgeting. Similar to the Chrysler and Jeep brands, Dodge also has a 32% chance of requiring a major repair within the first 10 years of owning the vehicle. Here are some 2025 Dodge models that can be expensive to upkeep:
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Dodge models: $11,352
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Dodge Durgango 10-year maintenance costs: $11,768
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Dodge Hornet 10-year maintenance costs: $10,934
Ford
Just because something is built Ford tough doesn’t mean it won’t be hard on your finances. The cost to maintain and repair your Ford over 10 years will run an average of $10,392, which is $2,089 over the average for popular brands overall. And the chance your vehicle will need a major repair during that time is approximately 7% worse than the standard. If you want to stretch your nest egg a bit further in retirement, you may want to consider alternative modes of transportation.
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Ford models: $10,392
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Ford F-150 to Ford F-450 10-year maintenance costs: $11,367 to $16,170
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Ford Expedition 10-year maintenance costs: $10,302
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Ford Bronco 10-year maintenance costs: $10,159
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Ford Explorer 10-year maintenance costs: $9,766
Chevrolet
Chevrolet is another popular car brand with a steeper than average 10-year maintenance and repair cost — $1,359 higher to be exact. With a 28% chance of your Chevy needing a major repair, which is 4% worse than other auto manufacturers studied, retirees may have to contend with costlier mechanic bills alongside their other necessary expenses.
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Chevrolet models: $9,662
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Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to Chevrolet Silverado 3500 10-year maintenance costs: $11,045 to $15,497
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Chevrolet Colorado 10-year maintenance costs: $10,713
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Chevrolet Suburban 10-year maintenance costs: $10,108
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Chevrolet Tahoe 10-year maintenance costs: $10,029
GMC
It may seem counterintuitive to expect the unexpected, but when it comes to car expenses, you may need more than your emergency savings to cover some of these maintenance costs. GMC models on average will cost retirees nearly $9,500 in maintenance and repairs over 10 years. Not only that, but GMC vehicles have a 28% chance of requiring a major repair.
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for GMC models: $9,467
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GMC Sierra 1500 to GMC Sierra 3500 10-year maintenance costs: $10,002 to $14,014
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GMC Canyon 10-year maintenance costs: $9,568
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GMC Yukon XL 10-year maintenance costs: $9.373
Buick
Buick may bill itself as exceptional by design, but that design could cost you with an average 10-year maintenance and repair cost that’s $715 higher than the industry average. While this may not seem like a lot, every dollar counts if you’re living with a fixed income. Add to that the 25% chance of your car needing a major repair, which is 1% worse than other manufacturers, and you might want to consider avoiding these models in your golden years.
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Average 10-year maintenance costs for Buick models: $9,018
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Buick Enclave 10-year maintenance costs: $9,322
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Buick Envision 10-year maintenance costs: $9,105
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Buick Encore GX 10-year maintenance costs: $8,857
Editor’s note: Data sourced via CarEdge, and is accurate as of Jul. 31, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Popular Car Brands To Stay Away From in Retirement
