I’m a Mechanic: 5 Pricey Family Cars That Constantly Break Down
Written by
G. Brian Davis
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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You don’t always get what you pay for — at least with car reliability. That’s why GOBankingRates spoke with several experts in the field to explore just which vehicles designed to haul around more people are prone to mechanical failures on a more regular basis.
Watch out for these expensive family cars that have a tendency to break down often, and will cost you a ton in repairs as a result.
Mercedes-Benz GLS
- Starting Price: $90,350
The GLS is undeniably beautiful, both inside and out. It sports a huge engine boasting 375-510 horsepower. And it spends far more time in the shop than it should.
“It’s luxurious and spacious, but the AIRMATIC suspension and transmission issues are frequent pain points,” explained Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot. “Repairs easily run into the thousands even in vehicles with low mileage.”
Cadillac Escalade
- Starting Price: $90,295
Another luxury SUV that mechanics see too often, the Escalade isn’t exactly easy on your wallet. “The Escalade is plagued by transmission issues, magnetic ride control failures and electrical glitches with infotainment systems,” added Gelfand.
Sure enough, it scored a weak two out of five stars for reliability by RepairPal. Buyer beware.
Land Rover Range Rover
- Starting Price: $109,375
The Range Rover pops up on nearly every list of unreliable luxury vehicles. It is notoriously undependable and expensive to repair.
Ruth Calkins runs vehicle history reporting service FindByPlate, and sees all-too-common complaints about the Range Rover. “For a vehicle of its size and off-road capability, it’s disappointing that owners report such frequent issues with its electrical and mechanical systems,” she noted.
It, too, scored an ignominious two out of five stars from RepairPal.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Starting Price: $118,900
As a full-size luxury sedan with equally full-size sticker price, the S-Class drips with luxurious finishes. It also costs a fortune every time it visits the repair shop — an unfortunately frequent occurrence.
“A popular choice for families who prioritize prestige, technology and comfort, the S-Class experiences electrical system glitches, engine problems and issues with its transmission,” noted Calkins.
Ford Expedition
- Starting Price: $64,515
Ford’s huge three-row SUV only looks affordable compared to the other high-end family cars above. And its affordability only gets worse when you factor in repair costs.
Zach Shefska, CEO of CarEdge, pointed out that the Expedition scores an “F” on value, and costs nearly $100,000 to own in the first five years alone. “The Expedition suffers serious brake issues and transmission problems, and that’s just the start. Sensor failures, A/C problems and even rearview camera complaints all make matters worse for Expedition owners,” he pointed out.
Price disclaimer: Starting prices were sourced from Kelley Blue Book and accurate as of Sept. 2025.
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