5 Cars That Have the Most Expensive Repairs After 100K Miles
Written by
Sean Bryant
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Just about everything is becoming more expensive these days, and car repairs are no exception. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, it’s crucial to weigh the costs of potential future repairs before making a purchase, especially if you intend to drive the car after it reaches 100,000 miles.
Even the most well-maintained car will need repairs eventually, but some models are far pricier to fix than others. We’ve done the homework for you and put together a list of cars with the most expensive repairs after the 100,000-mile mark.
Land Rover Range Rover
- Estimated cost for maintenance and repairs in first 10 years of service: $20,136
Range Rovers have a reputation as high-performance vehicles, so they may not need repairs as frequently as other vehicles, but when they do, the repairs can be costly.
The main factor behind why repairs are expensive is the price of the vehicle parts. Land Rover manufactures its Range Rovers with high-quality parts and advanced technology, which naturally carry a higher price tag. Not to mention, as your Range Rover surpasses 100,000 miles and gets older, replacement parts become harder to find, which drives prices up even higher.
“The Range Rover tends to have problems with major systems after the first 100,000 miles,” said Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org. “The timing chain may need to be replaced which will cost over $5,000. The air suspension often fails after 100,000 miles, and will cost a couple of thousand dollars to repair.”
Mercedes S Class
- Estimated cost for maintenance and repairs in first 10 years of service: $12,685
Mercedes S-Class vehicles are built to last, so when you spend over $100,000 to buy one, you can expect to drive it over the 100,000-mile mark. Like the Range Rover, though, a well-manufactured vehicle is not cheap to fix. Expect to pay thousands of dollars when you eventually need to repair things like the sunroof motor, air conditioning expansion valves or water pumps.
“The S Class is an expensive vehicle to maintain, especially as it ages,” said Musson. “It requires specialty repairs with parts that cost a lot of money. German-made vehicles tend to have some good qualities that owners find attractive, but some of those benefits end up causing problems. For example, the vehicle’s advanced safety features often start to glitch after 100,000 miles. Even routine oil changes cost more than average.”
Porsche Macan
- Estimated cost for maintenance and repairs in first 10 years of service: $20,000
The Porsche Macan is ranked high on the list of luxury SUVs to own, but it does come with expensive repairs.
Many owners complain about transmission issues, which carry an estimated $2,000 price tag to fix, and transfer case failures, which are even more expensive to replace. Carbon buildup in the engine of the Macan is another major concern, especially for those with over 100,000 miles.
It’s safe to say that if you’re planning on driving your Macan for an extended number of miles, be prepared to pay for it.
BMW X5
- Estimated cost for maintenance and repairs in first 10 years of service: $19,514
Having a BMW on our list likely doesn’t come as a surprise. The BMW X5 may be another high-performing luxury SUV, but just like the other vehicles on the list, its repairs do not come cheap. Expect to pay above-average prices for new tires, brake repairs and technology issues.
Audi Q8
- Estimated cost for maintenance and repairs in first 10 years of service: $13,351
The final vehicle on our list with notoriously expensive repair costs after 100,000 miles is the Audi Q8. It’s another luxury SUV known for its high performance, but it still may have issues over time. Owners can expect to spend thousands of dollars on repairs to fix engine issues, transmission problems and technology glitches.
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