23 Cars That Require Extensive Regular Maintenance

Every car buff wishes there was a maintenance-free car — but if you’ve lived on this capitalistic planet for more than two decades, you know nothing comes for free.

That said, the cost of maintenance varies from one car to the next. If you buy a high-end European luxury car, steep maintenance costs are inevitable.

The comfort and high-performance perks that come naturally on a Bugatti or McLaren translate into high complexity and specialized components. The result is more frequent maintenance appointments and expensive repairs than your average Civic or Corolla.

It gets worse: Some of the vehicles on this list require specialized maintenance from authorized service shops, and the service charges for some of these are triple digits per hour.

If we were to list the top most expensive cars to maintain, the first 100 slots would be filled with supercars and ultra-luxury cars. As a result, we’ve mixed things up to give a clear worldview of luxury, performance, and everyday utility cars.

Ford Transit Wagon

There’s a big misconception that commercial utility vehicles like the Ford Transit Wagon are cheap to maintain. Most people believe the more luxurious a car is, the more expensive it is to maintain.

While that might be true, vehicles on the other side of the spectrum can also be costly. The Ford Transit Wagon, for instance, racks up about $1,163 in annual maintenance costs. The most frequently serviced components are the engine and transmission, which often call for higher labor charges due to the complexity (man hours) of the repairs.

A Ford Transit owner on a popular forum complained of spending about $9,000 on a new transmission and converter ($495 for transmission flush). Another owner spent $4,000 on a new turbo on a car with 96 K miles.

Chevrolet Express Cargo

Have you checked the prices on the Chevrolet Express Cargo vans lately? They have shot up, right? Well, ever since millennials took up living in cars to cut costs on rent after the pandemic, these work vans have become gems on wheels.

But this practical van-turned-van-life car can be quite expensive to maintain — especially if bought used. The annual maintenance cost is about $1,137 ($11,370 in ten years), and the engine cooling and braking systems are the most frequently serviced culprits.

On the other hand, the Chevrolet Express Cargo is the ultimate outdoor van. It’s quite reliable and durable, and better yet, parts are available everywhere in the United States.

Infiniti Q50

Japanese cars have a reputation for being cheap to maintain, but the Infiniti Q50 isn’t your ordinary car from Japan. It’s a luxury sports sedan with an above-average maintenance cost of about $1,100 annually ($11,100 over ten years).

Some of the common parts that require frequent maintenance include the fuel pump and the camshaft position sensor. One owner on an Infiniti forum confessed how the Infinity Q50 almost crippled them financially, forcing them to take a $10,000 loan for repairs.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van is at the high end of the commercial or utility van segment, and with that comes higher maintenance costs. But as you may already know, this German commercial van currently does more than haul your local plumber’s tools of trade – it’s also an avid overlander or van-life car.

Unlike the basic Nissan NV Cargo Van, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van features complex engineering for its incomparable performance and reliability. This translates into regular maintenance and high repair costs. The annual cost of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van is about $1,850.

Land Rover Range Rover

If it is a European luxury SUV, it probably costs an arm and a leg to maintain. The Land Rover Range Rover, a.k.a. The Mobb Boss car in the UK, comes with a bad rep, all things maintenance.

It’s a well-known fact in the used car market that you shouldn’t touch a Range Rover with a shot air suspension. Replacing the active suspension system costs between $1,600 and $1,800, and labor costs average about $300.

The annual maintenance cost for a Land Rover Range Rover is also quite steep: $1,200 annually, which is more than $10,000 in ten years.

Cadillac DTS

Here’s the thing: The Cadillac DTS tends to be extremely cheap on the used car market. For that reason, it makes a tempting option for a luxury car (neat option for $10K, decent for $5K). But let’s be honest here, folks. All luxury cars are expensive to maintain.

According to one owner on a Cadillac forum, the DTS costs a little bit more for oil changes (7.5 quarts). It also weighs about 5,000 lbs, and it’s guaranteed you’ll need a complete suspension overhaul at 80,000 miles.

It packs a powerful 4.6-liter engine, but it is not designed to race. Push it to its limits, and you’ll blow the head gasket. The Cadillac DTS is not the type of car to miss regular maintenance service — try that, and it’ll find a second home at your local repair shop.

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

The Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD gets a lot of props for being reliable and useful. It packs enough grunt for all your towing needs, and for most owners — it offers more capability than required.

But things take a different turn in maintenance — it’s a massive truck, after all. It costs about $1,490 annually to maintain a Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. One owner on a popular Silverado forum wasn’t too pleased after spending close to $4,000 on a used variant of the truck (after only two months of ownership).

While most owners agree it costs a fortune to maintain the chunky Chevy truck, they are happy with its bulletproof engine and reliable service.

BMW X3

It wouldn’t have taken long before you stumbled onto a European luxury car on this list. Trust me, we’ve saved the best for last. Any BMW is expensive to maintain and repair.

According to an X3 owner in a BMW forum, the BMW X3 costs about $1,280 annually in maintenance and about $13,000 in ten years (without a service plan). With a service plan, it costs $2,700 for three years.

Some common parts that frequently need maintenance include the drive belt tensioner and cabin components like the window regulators.

GMC Sierra 3500HD

There’s no arguing that the GMC Sierra 3500HD is the ultimate tow-doctor. The newer variants come with a ton of features and a luxurious interior. It might have too much chrome and cost more than the Silverado HD, but you’ll love its Zues-like power.

Unfortunately, the GMC Sierra 3500HD is known to have transmission failure issues. According to one owner, a replacement costs about $6,000, but here’s the kicker — there is an indefinite backorder. The GMC Sierra 3500HD also costs about $1,300 annually for maintenance.

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

They say getting a C-Class is entry-level into the Mercedes-Benz owners club. Going for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is entry-level into the Mercedes-Benz SUV club. It might be the smallest SUV from the automaker, but you’ll have earned your stripes on the greener side of the pond.

Unfortunately, all good things end there. The annual maintenance cost of a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is about $1,039. Other than regular oil changes, this entry-level Mecerdes-Benz is known to have issues with crank position sensors and brakes.

A GLA owner with a unit over 100,000 miles confessed to spending over $1,000 for ‘A’ service. The oil filter alone cost them $531. If settling bills and crediting invoices is a personal endeavor, get one from the used market.

Ford F-Series (F-250, F-350)

Pick-up truck enthusiasts love the Ford F-Series trims for one reason — they pack great engines and have unbelievable towing and hauling capabilities. And even though their top-tier variations don’t match its biggest nemesis, the Ram, Ford buffs swear their lives on it.

But with big responsibilities come even bigger expectations, and for the Ford F-Series trucks, it is on maintenance. For starters, this is not the kind of car to buy used.

And while the oil change service is above average, it should be the least of your worries. The F-250 and F-350 trims with high mileage sometimes require a new transmission, cams, steering column, and more.

Porsche 911 Turbo S

The Porsche 911 Turbo S was solely developed as a sprinter — everything else nice comes as an extra. Still, it is important to note that while expensive to maintain and repair, the 911 Turbo was built to be sturdy and reliable.

The older a Porsche is — the more likely there will be stuff to repair. If maintenance is a problem, a used Porsche shouldn’t be on your list of must-buy cars. The annual maintenance cost for the Porsche 911 Turbo S is pegged at $2,200 — two years’ maintenance for Mercedes-Benz GLA.

Audi R8

Every car buff wants a car that turns heads and drives fast. While for a few motor enthusiasts, that car is a hot rod, for many, it is a performance luxury vehicle — like the Audi R8. Here’s the thing: It costs about $3,100 annually to maintain this German luxury performance car.

And for that, you get supercar performance powered by a 5.2-liter V10 capable of 602 hp. V10 engines require high-performance oils and frequent adjustments (valve adjustments every 15,000 miles) to make 3-second launches. Add thousands of dollars if it’s racked up more than 100,000 miles.

Ferrari F40

There is a reason why the Ferrari F40 is suitable for celebrities and the ultra-rich. This twin-turbo exotic car isn’t something you’ll see every day. And for most people, it is an elusive car they’ll only view in magazines or digitally.

Let that sink in. If it’s that rare, then there’s no chance you will get replacement parts from your local Autozone retail shop. If anything, Ferrari doesn’t sell specific replacement parts to individuals, only authorized Ferrari dealerships. Maintenance costs for this exotic Italian speedster are about $5,000 annually.

Koenigsegg CC850

Getting into hypercar territory is not for everyone — it also requires a chunky bank account. The Koenigsegg CC850 is one of those cars that are only available to the exclusive few. And for these selected few, maintenance costs are never part of their worries.

That said, the Koenigsegg CC850 requires extensive maintenance and service to ensure its sophisticated parts work optimally. The annual maintenance cost on this hypercar is $9,000, a thousand dollars shy of $10,000. That’s not all. The Koenigsegg CC850 wheels (carbon) need replacement every few years — they are not cheap!

Lamborghini Murcielago

At some point, every 90s kid’s dream car was a Lamborghini. I had my eyes on the Diablo long before the Murcielago and the Gallardo rolled out.

While the later model Lamborghinis became more reliable, they featured more sophisticated parts, further advancing the dream of owning the raging Italian bull for most car enthusiasts.

The Lamborghini Murcielago, for instance, featured a 6.2-liter V12, pushing the annual maintenance cost to $18,500. The labor costs alone are enough to handle all your domestic bills — and that’s because a Murcielago is not the kind of car to take to your local repair shop.

McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 is a car with many firsts — it was the first hypercar and, at some point, claimed the title of the fastest production car in the world — that’s close to 20 years ago. However, even with that, the McLaren F1 is a hypercar that requires extensive maintenance and service.

The annual maintenance cost for this British hypercar is more than three times that of a Koenigsegg CC850, at $30,000. You won’t get away with letting it sit in your garage as an art piece, either — the McLaren F1’s sophisticated architecture requires it to run regularly.

Bugatti Veyron

if you are looking for rocket-like speed and luxury, the Bugatti Veyron must be at the top of your list. It’s one of those supercars that have won several accolades throughout its development, placing it at the top of the best in automotive performance.

Unfortunately, the Bugatti Veyron is as expensive to maintain as it is to purchase. It requires at least one oil change service annually, which can only be done by an accredited auto shop. Fluid changes alone cost more than $20,000 for this supercar.

Aston Martin Valkyrie

They say spending rich people’s money looks wasteful until you get ‘wealthy people’s money.’ But spending top-tier sports car money for annual maintenance seems a little boastful. Well, that’s what it costs to maintain an Aston Martin Valkyrie for a year – $110,000.

It’s like buying a 2024 Ford F-Series and paying for more than three years of maintenance — that should arouse the interest of some truck aficionados. In three years, the Aston Martin Valkyrie will rack up more than $400,000 in maintenance costs.

Mercedes-AMG ONE

Here’s the truth. The Mercedes-AMG ONE runs on a modified F1 engine, rev-limited at 11,000 RPMs. It sits on the thin line between hyper-performance and track cars. With that in mind, there’s no playing cheap with this hypercar.

That’s not all. The Mercedes-AMG ONE requires an engine rebuild every 30,000 miles. Let’s not forget this is a detuned hybrid tech F1 engine capable of 1,063-hp.

Pagani Huayra

The Pagani Huayra is a top-tier hypercar. Stock, it packs a twin-turbo 6-liter V12 sourced from AMG. With that kind of firepower underneath, it makes 720-hp and 738lb-ft of torque. Foot on the pedal, and it’ll scream from 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds.

The Pagani Huayra is a marvel of automotive architecture, often translating into hefty maintenance costs. American real estate mogul and YouTuber Manny Khoshbin owns a Hermes Edition Pagani Huayra (213 miles on the odometer). According to the millionaire, regular maintenance service costs him about $8,000.

Mercedes SLR McLaren

You’ve got to love the shark-inspired design of the Mercedes SLR McLaren — the long hood, jet-inspired interior, and — drumroll…its amazing performance. Under the hood, it runs a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 capable of 617-hp and 575lb-ft of torque.

American realtor and real estate mogul Manny Khoshib also owns one of these bad boys. So far, he has six examples. According to the ultra-successful realtor, an oil change service and minor repairs cost him about $20,000.

You don’t want to leave the Mercedes SLR McLaren sitting in the garage too long — if the injectors get clogged, you’ll need to pay $30,000 in repairs.

McLaren Speedtail

McLaren Speedtail is a special car in the hyper-performance car world. It was the first hyper-GT and was unveiled in 2018. It packs a V8 engine and an electric motor together, making a whopping 1,036 hp. Step on the gas pedal, and it’ll speed to 205-hp (402 kph).

Maintaining this ultra-performance hypercar isn’t cheap — it costs about $22,000 for a regular maintenance service. That’s the cost of a brand new 2024 Hyundai Elantra.