I’m a Mechanic: 6 High-Maintenance Japanese Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet
Written by
Lydia Kibet
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Many people praise Japanese cars for their reliability, but not all vehicles are as low-maintenance as you’d expect. Some popular Japanese cars come with design flaws, expensive repair histories, or parts that are either hard to find or costly to replace.
GOBankingRates spoke to Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot, who shared six Japanese car models that will drain your wallet.
Mazda RX-8
The RX-8’s rotary engine delivers unique performance, but this innovative design comes at a cost. The engine is known for its excessive oil consumption and short lifespan and is prone to flooding issues.
“The complex nature of these engines leads many repair shops to avoid working on them because of their specialized requirements,” Gelfand said.
Nissan Pathfinder (2005-2014)
The Pathfinder is a solid SUV in many ways, but models from these years suffer from a major design flaw. “The design flaw in these model years produces cracked radiators, which let coolant escape to contaminate the transmission,” Gelfand said.
A transmission contaminated by coolant may require replacement or rebuilding, which can end up costing a lot in repairs.
Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is a premium SUV from Toyota but has high maintenance costs that will drain your wallet.
“The massive V8 engine along with the air suspension system requires expensive maintenance costs that quickly accumulate,” Gelfand said. “It’s bulletproof in reliability but budget-busting when the big repairs hit.”
Honda Odyssey (1999-2010)
Many households choose a Honda Odyssey for space and comfort, but older models are notorious for transmission issues, many failing before hitting 100,000 miles. “Later models are better, but if you’re eyeing a used older Odyssey, beware,” Gelfand said.
Power sliding door motor failures are also common with these models.
Subaru WRX/WRX STI
Performance comes at a price with Subaru’s turbocharged sedans. The WRX and WRX STI attract enthusiastic drivers who often push these vehicles to their limits, accelerating wear on critical components.
“The combination of hard driving causes increased stress to both the engine systems and the transmission and drivetrain,” Gelfand said. Even careful drivers may face premature wear on their vehicles.
Infiniti QX56/QX80
“The full-size luxury SUVs from Infiniti present attractive design features, but their maintenance costs remain high, particularly when repairing air suspension systems and timing components,” Gelfand said.
Other common repairs include timing chain and brake system issues.
More From GOBankingRates
