5 Electric Vehicles With the Highest Repair Costs
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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An electric vehicle (EV) can be cost effective in many ways, particularly when it comes to saving money on gas. But like any other car, they have their share of maintenance and repair costs.
If you’re thinking about getting an EV for the savings potential, make sure you’re also aware of its annual repair costs. Otherwise, your expenses could end up offsetting any possible savings.
That said, these electric vehicles have some of the highest repair costs.
Lucid Air
Considered one of the longest range electric cars out there by Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the Lucid Air can be quite expensive to repair. According to one owner on LucidOwners.com, a “small scuff on the rear bumper” cost them $2,600 to fix. Another owner said that basic damage due to “running over a tire” ended up costing them $7,665.62, including labor.
Some Lucid Air owners might see lower costs, however. According to KBB, the average five-year repair cost is $2,510. Maintenance costs $3,115 on average for a total of $5,625.
“Certain components like the battery, drive motor, inverter and onboard charger do have high repair costs associated with them,” said Jon Vorisek, founder of Repair Surge. “If and when they need replacement, it’s going to eat into your savings.”
Tesla Models
There are several Tesla vehicles, all of which can be fairly expensive to repair.
“Some repairs on a Tesla can get pretty costly,” Vorisek said. “There’s not a big supply of aftermarket parts and the aluminum body panels can add to the cost of collision repairs.”
According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for Tesla vehicles is $832. For the Model S, the five-year cost of repairs averages out at $1,224, while maintenance is $3,115.
If your vehicle has a faulty part or you get into an accident, expect to spend more.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Perhaps unsurprisingly, luxury vehicles often cost much more to repair than their non-luxury counterparts.
“Like with ICE [internal combustion engine] vehicles, EVs made by luxury brands are going to have outsized repair costs,” Vorisek said.
Take the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. The typical five-year cost of repairs is $2,510, while maintenance costs $7,237 on average. That’s nearly $10,000 or $2,000 a year.
RepairPal corroborated this by estimating the annual average repair cost for all Mercedes-Benz vehicles is $908.
Audi Q4 e-tron
KBB estimates the Audi Q4 e-tron costs an average of $1,563 in repairs, while maintenance runs closer to $3,237. This is the case for both the 2024 and 2025 models.
Porsche Taycan
According to Vorisek, the 2024 Porsche Taycan is also one of the more expensive electric vehicles to repair.
The average five-year cost of repairs is $1,436, as listed on KBB. Maintenance costs are $3,193 on average. However, costs can be much higher.
Based on RepairPal data, Porsches in general cost an annual average of $1,192 to repair.
Main Expenses Contributing To Repair Costs
When it comes to electric vehicles, repairs tend to be more complex and therefore more costly. However, these vehicles often need fewer repairs in general.
“EV owners can usually expect to save some money on repairs and maintenance compared to ICE vehicles,” Vorisek said. “You don’t have to change the oil and the brakes don’t wear out as quickly because of the regenerative braking. There’s also no transmission to repair.”
Some things you might need to get repaired or maintenance for include:
- EV tires
- Batteries (common issues include capacity degradation, thermal management system malfunctions and battery cell imbalances)
- Charging port
- Charging cable damages
- Inverter malfunction
- Electrical wiring or control unit issues
- Coolant leaks
- Brake pad wear
While you might not be able to avoid all possible repairs, keeping your vehicle up to date on its maintenance can help keep you from getting hit with a surprise bill.
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