When you’re buying a car, whether it’s new or used, the cost of keeping it running is just as important as the amount you pay to buy it. While fuel prices are an important part of long-term car ownership, especially since many newer cars are more fuel-efficient—you shouldn’t ignore how much it costs to maintain and repair the vehicle.
A survey showed that 64 percent of 1,000 car owners admitted to putting off maintenance, even though regular checkups can help avoid bigger problems. Still, some car brands are just more expensive to maintain over time.
There are many reasons why maintenance costs can be different. It might depend on how old the car is, how easy it is to find parts, or the brand of the car. Common repair jobs include fixing issues with the electrical system, the engine, and the transmission.
But with the growing use of electric vehicles, some of the older, more common problems are happening less often, while new types of problems are starting to show up, which both car makers and buyers need to think about.
CarEdge and RepairPal both studied short-term and long-term maintenance needs for some of the biggest car companies selling in the U.S. That’s where the information comes from for the car brands that may end up costing you more.
While brands like Toyota and Honda are good at keeping these costs lower, these are the 10 major car companies that have the highest maintenance costs.
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Volvo
Volvo has been making a strong return in the U.S. lately, especially by offering luxury vehicles at lower prices than some of its main competitors. In 2025, models like the XC90, XC60, and XC40 SUVs, along with the S60 sedan, continue to be great options if you’re looking to buy a new or used luxury car.
Besides these well-known models, the Swedish carmaker has been putting more effort into its newer all-electric cars to secure a stronger position among buyers. These electric cars cost a bit more than the mild and plug-in hybrids Volvo makes, but they’re still priced competitively. For example, the Volvo EX30 offers great value at $44,900.
Even though the starting prices are appealing, Volvos tend to cost more to maintain than some other brands. RepairPal says the yearly cost for Volvo maintenance is $769. This is lower than the $972 average for full-size luxury cars, but it’s still higher than the general average of $652. Owners of the S60 and XC90 have reported issues with the transmissions, pointing to a common problem in different Volvo models. Looking at long-term maintenance and repairs, CarEdge estimates a 10-year total of $10,073, showing that the cost goes up steadily over time.
Audi
Audi gives people more variety than Volvo when it comes to both new and used cars in 2025. Whether you’re after a small luxury sedan, a mid-size SUV, or a high-performance wagon, this well-known German brand has plenty of choices.
Like other luxury brands, Audi has been working on and growing its line of electric cars under the e-tron name. This gives buyers more environmentally friendly options, with models like the Q8 e-tron being available in the U.S. since 2019. Prices for new Audi cars can differ a lot, from the lowest-priced A3 at $38,400 to the high-end RS e-tron GT Performance at $167,000.
When looking at how much it costs to keep an Audi running, it fits the pattern of being pricier than many other well-known brands. Some used Audi models are more reliable than others, but according to RepairPal, you should expect to pay about $987 per year in maintenance, which is higher than the average cost for the luxury category. This amount is lower than what BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners usually pay each year, but CarEdge’s numbers show that over time, Audi has lower long-term maintenance costs than these rivals, averaging $10,213.
Ford
Ford was the top-selling American brand in 2024 in the U.S., offering some of the most popular SUVs and pickup trucks on the market. A big reason for Ford’s strong sales is the well-known F-Series pickup truck, which reached 732,139 sales in 2024. Another popular model from the company based in Detroit is the Ford Maverick, which sold 157,345 units during the same year.
If you’re interested in a smaller Ford car, you’ll need to check out the used market. This gives you many older models to pick from, like the compact Ford Focus, which had an average used price of $6,633 for the last 2018 version, according to KBB.
Ford has many appealing options whether you’re looking at new or used vehicles, but when it comes to maintenance, it doesn’t perform as well as some of the other brands it outsold last year. RepairPal reports that maintaining a Ford costs about $775 per year.
Transmission problems are often reported, especially with the Ford Fusion sedan, and getting a full transmission replaced can cost thousands. CarEdge reports that Ford owners can expect to spend about $10,392 on maintenance over 10 years.
Cadillac
Cadillac is another American brand that has high maintenance costs. It’s one of the oldest luxury carmakers and offers a strong lineup of SUVs, while still keeping sedans like the CT4 and CT5 for people who want a mix of comfort and power.
Cadillac is pushing harder than some of its competitors in growing its electric vehicle options in the U.S. Even though GM no longer plans for Cadillac to be fully electric by 2030, models like the Lyriq, Optiq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ are being designed to show what electric power can offer in a luxury vehicle.
Since these electric models are still new, it’s not yet clear how reliable they’ll be in the long run. But there is plenty of information on the Cadillac models that are still being sold or were recently dropped, like the CT6. Cadillac is known for comfort and speed, but its repair and maintenance costs are a weak spot. CarEdge estimates that you’ll spend about $11,086 on maintenance over 10 years. According to RepairPal, yearly costs are similar to brands like Ford, at $783.
Dodge
Since the golden era of muscle cars in the late 1960s and 1970s, Dodge has stayed popular as an American performance brand, even though it has gone through big changes in its vehicle lineup and ownership. The 2023 Challenger and Charger models have been discontinued to make room for the new Dodge Charger EV, with a gas version expected in summer 2025.
The good news is that you can still find these models in great condition. A used 2023 Dodge Challenger sells for about $24,471, while a used Dodge Charger usually goes for around $24,394. Along with the new version of the Charger, Dodge’s smaller lineup now includes the Durango and Hornet SUVs.
When it comes to yearly maintenance costs, Dodge stays a bit below the industry average, with RepairPal listing the cost at $634. However, as the car gets older, the costs for fixing and maintaining it start to go up, especially after five years. By the time you’ve owned the car for 10 years, CarEdge says you’ll spend $11,352, which is $3,049 more than the average at that point.
Chrysler
Chrysler, which is part of Stellantis, stands out on this list because it only makes minivans. Buyers can choose between the Voyager and the Pacifica, and the Pacifica is also sold as a plug-in hybrid. A few years ago, Chrysler had more variety, including the 300 sedan, which was stopped in 2023. The smaller Chrysler 200 was stopped earlier, in 2017.
Even though Chrysler now focuses on one type of vehicle, the past models give a lot of data on how reliable the brand is, both in the short term and over many years. RepairPal reports an expected yearly maintenance cost of $608, which is lower than many other American brands. But like others, these costs grow with time. According to CarEdge, after 10 years, owning a Chrysler will cost $11,367 in maintenance.
One problem that has come up in several Chrysler models is trouble with the transmission, something that different car owners have reported across the brand.
Jeep
When it comes to reliable off-road vehicles that can still be used for everyday driving, very few brands can match Jeep. With a strong history in the off-road SUV category — especially with the Wrangler — this American company has a solid mix of off-road and more luxury-style SUVs in 2025, helping it become the 10th best-selling car brand in the U.S. during 2024.
While some models like the Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer are not as focused on off-road driving, others such as the Wrangler might need more repairs if they are used too roughly on trails.
Still, just like with any car, regular maintenance can help stop bigger issues from happening. Common problems with these more rugged models include water leaks and parts coming loose, which can affect steering.
Even though Jeep stands out compared to other big American brands, it’s owned by Stellantis, just like the two brands before it on this list. It has similar costs for maintenance and repairs.
RepairPal lists the average yearly maintenance cost at $634, which is not very high, but CarEdge’s data shows that after three years, the cost starts going up faster. After 10 years, the total cost to maintain a Jeep is $11,690.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has been a top brand in the luxury car market for many years. In 2025, this German company has a wide variety of SUVs, sedans, and performance coupes to stay strong against its main competitors.
The brand includes advanced technology in both the interiors and the engines. These features help create a very high-end experience, but they can also lead to problems that are more expensive to fix compared to other carmakers, especially since repairs may need special parts or services.
Mercedes-Benz vehicles come with higher starting prices, and they are more costly to keep up with. RepairPal says the average yearly maintenance cost is $908. This puts Mercedes-Benz in 27th place out of 32 brands in RepairPal’s reliability study.
The costs over time don’t improve much either. CarEdge estimates that 10 years of maintenance for a Mercedes-Benz adds up to $12,962, which makes it one of the pricier luxury brands to own long term.
BMW
Along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz, BMW has been known for making cars that mix high-end comfort with strong performance. BMW usually focuses more on making its cars fun to drive rather than just making them feel fancy, but that doesn’t mean it leaves out any part of what people expect from a luxury vehicle.
This can be seen in nearly every model it offers in 2025, including the 2023 7 Series, which is one of its most luxurious cars. However, when something breaks in these cars, needing specific parts can make the maintenance costs go up.
For just one year of ownership, RepairPal says the average maintenance cost for a BMW is $968. This makes it the second-most expensive brand on this list and places it 30th out of 32 car brands reviewed by the site. The spending doesn’t end there — CarEdge reports that the 10-year cost of keeping a BMW running is $15,991, which is $4,007 more than what it usually costs for other luxury brands.
Ram
There are many reasons why someone might want a Ram truck in 2025, whether it’s the 1500, 2500, or 3500 model, with all of them starting at prices below $50,000.
Because of this, Ram became the 11th best-selling car brand in the U.S. during 2024. But these trucks are not very fuel-efficient — the 1500, for example, only gets 21 miles per gallon in its base version. Sadly, this is just part of the high cost of owning a Ram, as it turns out the brand is more expensive to maintain than any other major brand on this list.
Even though yearly maintenance isn’t the highest, RepairPal still estimates it at $858 per year. The bigger concern is how much it costs to maintain a Ram truck over a longer period. CarEdge says the 10-year cost is $21,595, and their data shows that the costs rise quite a bit in the second half of that time.
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One of the reasons for the higher costs is that Ram trucks offer diesel engines, like the one still available in the newest 2500 model. Diesel engines can be more expensive to repair because their parts cost more.
CarEdge also reports that there’s a 68.2 percent chance that Ram trucks will need a major repair within 10 years, which may make some buyers think twice if they are worried about rising long-term costs.
