Malcolm Gladwell may have theorized that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at a chosen task, but if you devoted 10,000 hours toward buying your next new car, people would think you’re nuts.
That’s because most smart car buying decisions can actually be broken down into a few simple steps:
Reading online articles and reviews to figure out the right vehicle for your family’s needsTaking a prospective new car out for a test driveGiving it a point-by-point inspectionWorking with a dealer to reach the most affordable priceTaking care of your new vehicle through maintenance and repairs
This last one may come as a surprise since, well, you just bought a new car, but despite every best intention, maintenance issues can and typically do arise.
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Instead of banging your head against the steering wheel, a smarter idea may be to gain a basic understanding of the most common car problems so you can budget and be as prepared as possible.
(Mr. Gladwell is cheering you on.)
What are the most common maintenance issues with cars?
Carfax, one of the most trusted names in the automotive industry, put together a list of the top 12 maintenance issues vehicles tend to have, as well as the estimated costs to repair them.
Related: Consumer Reports: The 10 best SUVs of 2024
This company creates detailed vehicle history reports by collecting data from insurance companies, police departments, and DMVs — and with over 31 billion vehicles analyzed over its 40-year history, you can be pretty sure it knows what it’s talking about.
Carfax’s list of common vehicle maintenance Issues
Carfax
ProblemReason Cost to repair
Car won’t start
Dead battery
$50 and up
Brake problems
Brake pads, shoes, hoses, need replacing, etc.
$300–$800
Rough engine idle
Worn-out spark plugs or other mechanical issues
$150-thousands
Leaks under car
Low engine coolant or transmission fluid
$0–1,000
Overheating
Leaky water pump or radiator, low engine oil, or cooling system issue
$20–$10,000
Paint or finish problems
Weather damage, scratches, and dents
As much as $2,500
Stability or “tipsy” issues
Worn shocks and struts
$450–$900
Tread wear indicator
Worn tires
$300–$400 per axle
Unpredictable noises or odors
Damaged automatic transmission
$1,100–$3,000
Broken windshield
Weather or debris in road
$100–$400
Wheel alignment issues
Driving over objects or potholes
$100–$200
Check Engine light is on
Low tire pressure, fuel system, transmission problems
Varies
The great news is, most new cars come with a complimentary maintenance plan that covers basic servicing for a set time period, like 1–2 years, or a certain number of miles driven. This can include oil changes, tire rotations, multi-point inspections, and other routine maintenance tasks.
Related: Consumer Reports’ best American cars, trucks & SUVs of 2024
But what happens when the coverage period ends, or the problem you’re having doesn’t fall within its parameters?
If only car buyers had a crystal ball that could predict which vehicle models would give them the least amount of trouble over their lifetimes …
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Consumer Reports’ methodology explained
Actually, they do, and it comes from the bright minds at Consumer Reports.
While some maintenance costs (like oil changes) are just plain unavoidable, there are certain car models that have been proven to experience the fewest problems over their lifespan.
Consumer Reports (CR), whose entire existence is geared toward helping consumers make informed purchase decisions, researched a decade’s worth of data to figure out the average repair and maintenance expenses for each new car on the road today (although it notes that collision repairs are not included in its estimates).
More automotive content:
How to buy a new car: An 8-step guide with tips & suggestionsHow to buy a used car: A 6-step guide with tips & best practicesUsed cars to avoid buying according to Consumer Reports
The models that topped CR’s list not only boast low repair and maintenance costs; they also score high on reliability and other factors, like fuel economy. What’s more, several of these vehicles fall within the budget category, making them an even bigger win for price-conscious new car buyers.
Here are Consumer Reports’ findings, categorized by car type:
The least expensive new cars to maintain by category
Nissan’s 2024 Leaf earns high marks from Consumer Reports electric vehicles for its low maintenance costs.
TTTNIS, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Electric Car: Nissan Leaf 2024
Price range: $28,140–$36,190CR score: 57Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $2,080
The Corolla averages less than $5,000 in maintenance costs over a 10-year timeframe.
MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Compact Car: Toyota Corolla 2024
Price range: $22,050–$28,340CR score: 75Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $4,125
Toyota’s Camry is another low-cost maintenance winner.
Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mid-Sized Car: Toyota Camry 2024
Price range: $22,050–$28,340CR score: 88Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $4,985
The Lexus ES Hybrid ranks high on the list of low-maintenance luxury vehicles.
Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Luxury Car: Lexus ES Hybrid 2024
Price range: $41,020CR score: 88Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $7,920
Toyota ranks high on the list of least expensive car brands to maintain; its RAV4 averages less than $6,000 over a 10-year period.
Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Compact SUV: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2024
Price range: $28,475–$39,780
CR score: 78
Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $5,870
The Ford Edge averaged $6,620 in maintenance costs over a decade, according to CR.
Ford
Midsized SUV: Ford Edge 2024
Price range: $38,465–$47,205CR score: 79Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $6,620
Lexus’ RX was one of two SUVs to top the Luxury category in terms of affordable maintenance.
Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Luxury SUV: Lexus RX 2024
Price range: $48,600–$69,230CR score: 78Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $8,700
The 2024 Buick Enclave was the other luxury SUV to score high on CR’s list.
HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Luxury SUV: Buick Enclave 2024
Price range: $43,900–$59,500CR score: 77Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $6,610
The Mazda Miata is an affordable car to maintain. According to Consumer Reports, it averages just $2,695 in maintenance costs over a ten-year period.
HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sport Car: Mazda MX-5 Miata 2024
Price range: $28,985–$40,210CR score: 80Maintenance cost over a 10-year period: $2,695
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