One of the first things we do when shopping for a new car is to make sure we can afford to live with it, month in and month out. But there are other things to factor into the monthly budget to make sure we obtain not just an affordable vehicle, but also a reliable vehicle.
We know what a vehicle’s maintenance schedule calls for, and there is a historical record of chronic issues, so taking those two factors into account, we can make a reasonable assumption of what it may cost to keep a car on the road year after year.
What follows is a list of American cars with the cheapest maintenance expectations. It’s a diverse list featuring the largest and the smallest, the most fuel-efficient and the gas-guzzlingest, the most exciting and the boringly modest.
2024 Chevrolet Trax
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $8,512
The Chevrolet Trax was redesigned for the 2024 model year, getting a boost in size and more features, including a more complete array of passenger safety and driving assistance systems. Five trim levels are available for 2024 – LS, 1RS and 2RS, LS, and ACTIV.
2024 Chevrolet Trax Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $2,212 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $8,512 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 26.05% |
| MSRP | $21,495 |
Power to the FWD-only Trax is supplied by a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine rated at 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque and mated to a six-speed automatic. The NHTSA received a lot of consumer complaints about the Trax’s electrical system and initiated a recall action for a blank instrument display.
2024 GMC Yukon
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $8,300
Like its big brother, the extended XL, the Yukon is fixing itself up for an important international appearance in 2025. It also receives the more rugged AT4 package of goodies, as well as four other trim levels, including the Denali Ultimate luxury package, with a standard Duramax turbodiesel.
2024 GMC Yukon Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $2,360 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $8,300 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 22.8% |
| MSRP | $58,200 |
In addition to those two models, the Yukon also comes in Denali, SLE, and SLT trim levels, all of them available in RWD and AWD. According to RepairPal, one of the more common repairs to the Yukon and Yukon XL is the rear suspension, and NHTSA bears this out with recalls for rear suspension bolts, plus another for daytime running lights.
2024 Buick Encore GX
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $8,264
The Encore GX is Buick’s most popular model, powered by the 137-hp 1.2-liter turbocharged “three” that is also used on the Chevrolet Trax. Unlike the Trax, the Encore GX is available in AWD and has the option of a larger 1.3-liter turbo inline-three making 155 hp.
2024 Buick Encore GX Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $2,158 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $8,264 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 25.14% |
| MSRP | $25,600 |
In keeping with the Buick dedication to making low-maintenance cars, the Encore GX scored an amazing 87/100 in the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rankings, earning it the Small SUV award in 2023. Like the Chevy Trax, it was named in the blank-instrument-panel NHTSA recall, though its customer complaints total just four.
2024 GMC Acadia
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $7,817
The GMC Acadia is all new for 2024, growing in every dimension from its 2023 predecessor, while providing an advanced suite of driving assistance technologies, an extensive list of safety features, and a more upscale interior. Befitting the larger exterior packaging, there is enhanced room for seven or eight inside.
2024 GMC Acadia Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $2,119 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $7,817 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 22.8% |
| MSRP | $43,995 |
RepairPal estimates the average annual cost of Acadia repairs at about $734, with the biggest issues relating to the transmission – an eight-speed automatic for 2024. There have been no recall actions or customer complaints submitted to the NHTSA, though the crossover is just a couple of months old.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $7,714
There isn’t much to be said about the Chevrolet Corvette that isn’t already known. But, one of the surprises coming very soon is the return of the ZR1, after nearly six years. We don’t know much about it, but the Z06 and E-Ray pulled off 2.5-second 0–60 runs, so … yeah.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $2,259 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $7,714 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 20.26% |
| MSRP | $68,300 |
The interesting thing here is to find a Corvette on this list, figuring that a mid-engined high-performance car tends to command high maintenance costs, but apparently not. Owners are understandably satisfied with the Corvette, resulting in an excellent 92/100 in the J.D. Power ratings, but fuel system problems seem to be the car’s Achilles heel.
2024 GMC Terrain
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $7,706
The 2025 Terrain will complete GMC’s product renaissance when it arrives in the Fall. As such, the 2024 Terrain carries over unchanged from the 2023 version. Power continues to be delivered by the 175-hp 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic that sends power to either the front or all four wheels.
2024 GMC Terrain Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $2,063 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $7,706 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 22.8% |
| MSRP | $30,095 |
The Terrain is the top performer of the four GMCs on this list of 2024 cars with the cheapest maintenance, so the brand obviously has strong dependability genes. RepairPal reports no nagging issues, though there is a NHTSA recall for a door latching problem.
2024 Ford Mustang
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $7,093
Mustang was introduced to the world 60 years ago and a bunch of rivals have tried to follow in its tire tracks. The car is all new for 2024 and is available, as it has been for most of its life, in coupe and convertible models.
2024 Ford Mustang Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $1,915 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $7,093 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 20.79% |
| MSRP | $30,920 |
According to RepairPal, the biggest issue befalling the Mustang is a convertible rear window that sometimes wants to fall off, and the service portal estimates the average annual upkeep bill at just over $700. NHTSA reports three concerning recalls, though, over a faulty clutch pressure line, a loose brake pedal, and a fuel-leak fire risk.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $6,460
The current generation Chevrolet Malibu is in its ninth year and there’s not a replacement in sight. For now, it remains an unobtrusive sedan that’s comfortable and decent enough to drive, and that’s good enough for many buyers.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $1,718 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $6,460 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 19.26% |
| MSRP | $26,195 |
The 2024 Malibu has no outstanding recalls, according to the NHTSA, and carries an 85/100 J.D. Power quality and reliability rating. RepairPal says its average annual repair and maintenance tab is $532, and its biggest issue is the electrical power steering, which the portal says sometimes leads to steering column replacement.
2024 Tesla Model S
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $4,556
The Model S is the flagship of the Tesla line, if not the entire EV auto-market, for its high-tech engineering and impressive driving range. It’s maybe starting to show its age, but Tesla has a way of updating its cars as it sees fit, without any regard for traditional model-year formalities.
2024 Tesla Model S Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $1,605 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $4,556 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 8.64% |
| MSRP | $65,990 |
RepairPal reports that the Model S has a fairly high annual repair and maintenance cost, at $1,047, but it has no major issues of consequence. That seems to be borne out by the NHTSA, with only one recall action for an incorrect font on an instrument panel driving light. Customer complaints mostly target the electrical system, mostly.
2024 Tesla Model 3
Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years: $3,587
Newly restyled for 2024, the Model 3 remains Tesla’s most affordable car, and a good choice for drivers who want to go electric on a budget. It’s not without its quirks, though, and chief among them is the absence of physical controls. Adjusting the outside mirrors, for example, requires you to use the infotainment system.
2024 Tesla Model 3 Maintenance Costs
| Maintenance Cost Over 5 Years | $1,117 |
| Maintenance Cost Over 10 Years | $3,587 |
| Chance Of Incurring A Major Repair | 8.64% |
| MSRP | $38,990 |
The Model 3 also has a history of fit-and-finish issues, and it shows in its J.D. Power quality and reliability score. Like the Model S, its owners rank it just average. The bulk of complaints to the NHTSA deal with steering wheel electrical issues, such as turn signal buttons malfunctioning, and there is a recall to deal with airbag deployment.
