There’s a reason why you see so many 20-year-old Honda Civics on the road: they last and they’re cheap to maintain.
I’m a Car Expert: 5 Most-Improved Luxury Cars That Are Now Worth Your Money
Check Out: 4 Low-Risk Ways To Build Your Savings in 2025
Some cars quickly become money pits after the first five years of ownership, however. Watch out for these cars with budget-busting maintenance bills.
Trending Now: Suze Orman’s Secret to a Wealthy Retirement–Have You Made This Money Move?
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a beautiful SUV. The repair bills look less pretty.
“The combination of performance parts and high labor expenses add up to expensive maintenance,” explained Alan Gelfand, auto mechanic and owner of German Car Depot. “Owners typically end up having to fix engine cooling pipes and driveshaft issues, and make expensive brake repairs.”
In fact, Consumer Reports ranked Porsches as the second most expensive car brand to maintain — behind Land Rover.
I’m a Mechanic: 3 Signs It’s Time To Retire Your Old Car
Land Rover Range Rover
Drivers love the combination of rugged strength and luxury interiors in the Range Rover. It’s all fun and games and four-wheeling until the things end up spending six months out of the year in the shop.
Marc Skirvin repairs older vehicles at Cash Auto Salvage, and noted, “The scarcity and high prices of repair parts adds to the cost. A Range Rover came into the shop recently with a failed air suspension, which is a $4,000 repair that almost every single one of them will have to have done at some point after 100,000 miles.”
CarEdge estimated the average cost of repairs over the first ten years of ownership at a nauseating $20,136. Yikes.
Audi Q7
Another luxury SUV that proves expensive to maintain, the Q7 comes with every cutting-edge technology you could ask for — each of which fails sooner or later.
“German cars are the perfect example of what’s wrong with over-engineering,” ranted Skirvin. “Manufacturers replace simple mechanical components with more complicated electronic parts. Should one of these fail, you can’t replace them with a generic version. You need the exact part from Audi, and your local dealership needs to recode it with their proprietary equipment.”
According to CarEdge, Q7s cost an average of $13,157 to maintain over ten years.
Mercedes Benz S-Class
Luxury sedans require plenty of expensive repairs, too. Case in point: the six-figure S-Class.
“After reaching 100,000 miles, S-Classes typically face three major issues with Airmatic suspension systems, oil leaks and advanced electronic system failures,” noted Gelfand. “The estimated ten-year maintenance costs approach $13,000, according to CarEdge, but that doesn’t include transmission or engine repairs.”
Ram 2500
Starting to feel smug about how expensive European cars are to maintain? The Ram 2500 ranks as the most expensive non-luxury brand for repairs, according to CarEdge, which estimates the ten-year cost of maintenance at a whopping $27,423.
Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org, noted that Rams require not just expensive parts, but also break down frequently. “With EPA guidelines and restrictions, Ram diesel engines get outfitted with so many regulators that the engines can’t work the way they were designed. The fuel injectors often stop working, the transmission has a history of problems [and] even the power steering can fail.”
Major problems aside, Musson pointed out that poor reliability extends to smaller repairs, too, such as electrical problems with the windows and door locks. Steer clear if you don’t want to become your local mechanic’s favorite customer.
More From GOBankingRates
New Law Could Make Electricity Bills Skyrocket in These 4 States
I’m a Self-Made Millionaire: 6 Ways I Use ChatGPT To Make a Lot of Money
5 Strategies High-Net-Worth Families Use To Build Generational Wealth
7 Wealth-Building Shortcuts Proven To Add $1K to Your Wallet This Month
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Mechanic: These Are the 5 Most Expensive Cars To Maintain Over Time
