Over 5 years of ownership, the average American spends $4,000–$9,000 on repairs and maintenance — and that number varies dramatically by manufacturer and model.
Lowest average annual repair costs by make
Toyota — industry standard for reliability
The Toyota Camry, Corolla, and RAV4 average $400–$550 per year in repairs — roughly half the industry average of $652. Toyota's simple, proven engineering means fewer electronic complications and well-understood failure patterns.
Honda — close behind Toyota
Honda's Civic, Accord, and CR-V average $400–$600 annually in repair costs. Parts are widely available and aftermarket support is excellent.
Mazda — the underrated choice
The Mazda3, CX-5, and CX-50 average $450–$600 per year in repairs. Mazda's SkyActiv engines are notably simple and reliable.
Most expensive vehicles to repair
BMW and Mercedes-Benz
German luxury vehicles average $1,000–$1,700 per year in repair costs. Parts are expensive, dealer labor rates are high, and many repairs require specialized tools.
The OBD code frequency test when buying used
When buying a used vehicle, always ask to scan the OBD system before purchasing — historical and pending codes tell you more than a test drive. Use MyOBDCode to look up any codes you find during a pre-purchase inspection.