Oil consumption between changes is a known quirk of some engines, yet certain used models have drawn organized owner surveys, class actions and settlements. Consumer Reports data and court-approved settlements form the record behind this avoid-list, which spans German performance cars and Detroit trucks alike. Here are twelve used vehicles with documented oil-burning histories.
1. BMW M5: Worst On The List
Consumer Reports calls the 2012-19 M5’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 the worst oil-burner on its list, with more than half of 2012 owners surveyed reporting oil consumption issues.
The figure comes from owner reports rather than isolated anecdotes, which makes it hard to dismiss. Anyone shopping for a used M5 of that era should ask for service records showing how often oil was added, and weigh that against the performance on offer.
2. Acura MDX: Lexus Does It Better
Consumer Reports found that 10 to just over 20 percent of owners of the 2010-13 MDX with the 3.7-liter V6 complained of oil consumption, and it suggests a 2010-13 Lexus RX instead.
A share that size is smaller than the M5’s, but it still marks the engine as a risk in a family crossover. Shoppers who like the MDX’s layout have a clear alternative in the recommended Lexus, chosen by the same surveyors for the same model years.
3. Subaru Tribeca: A Quarter Complained
Roughly a quarter of Tribeca owners complained of oil consumption for a few model years of the 2010-14 3.6-liter flat-six, according to Consumer Reports, which points buyers toward a Toyota Highlander as the better used choice.
The Tribeca was a niche three-row crossover to begin with, so used examples are uncommon and low asking prices can tempt shoppers. A complaint rate that high suggests the bargain could come with a habit of drinking oil between services.
4. Chevrolet Equinox: Four-Cylinder Trouble
Consumer Reports lists the 2010-13 Chevrolet Equinox with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder among used oil-burners, and recommends a 2010-15 Toyota RAV4 as the alternative for shoppers who want a compact crossover.
The Equinox sold in large numbers, so plenty of used examples are on the market and the engine choice matters a great deal. Buyers comparing compact crossovers from that period have a documented reason to look at the RAV4 first, or to confirm the oil history of any Equinox.
5. Chevrolet Silverado: Piston Ring Payout
A class action over 2011-14 Silverados with the 5.3-liter LC9 V8 alleged that defective piston rings cause oil consumption, and eligible owners in three states receive $3,380 each from the settlement.
The payout acknowledges a problem in one of the best-selling truck lines in the country, which is a lot of used pickups to consider. Owners and buyers of these trucks should check whether a particular vehicle qualifies and whether oil-related repairs were ever documented.
6. Chevrolet Tahoe: Same Engine, Same Case
Tahoes from 2011-14 with GM’s 5.3-liter LC9 V8 fall under an oil-consumption settlement, which alleged defective piston rings that can also lead to engine failure in addition to the oil use.
The allegation goes beyond topping off oil, since engine failure is the outcome the case describes. A used Tahoe from those years deserves a careful look at maintenance history, because the big SUV shares its V8 with the Silverado pickup.
7. Chevrolet Suburban: Lawyers Collected Millions
The 2011-14 Suburban is among the 5.3-liter V8 models in GM’s piston-ring oil-consumption case, and the settlement paid class lawyers $57,000,000 after the claims over oil use were resolved.
The legal fees alone show the scale of the litigation behind GM’s truck-based SUVs. Used Suburban shoppers should treat the case as a prompt to confirm engine condition and oil history, since this long-wheelbase SUV shares the LC9 with its Tahoe and Silverado siblings.
8. BMW X5: N63 Reimbursements
The 2010-13 X5 with BMW’s N63 V8 was part of a class action over excessive oil consumption, and the settlement reimburses up to $10 per quart for up to seven quarts of oil that owners had to add.
The reimbursement covers oil owners bought themselves, which shows how routine the top-offs had become for some of them. Used X5 shoppers considering the V8 version should ask what repairs or updates the engine has received over its life.
9. BMW 7 Series: Flagship Fix Offered
The 2009-12 7 Series sedans with the N63 V8 were covered by BMW’s oil-consumption settlement terms, which included up to three oil consumption tests and possible engine replacement for qualifying cars.
The remedy extends to replacing the engine, a notable step for a flagship luxury sedan. Shoppers considering one of these older 7 Series cars should expect the individual car’s history to matter far more than its age or its mileage.
10. Audi A4: Seventy-Five Percent
Owners of 2012-14 A4 sedans were covered by a settlement over piston defects alleging piston and piston-ring faults that cause excessive oil consumption, with reimbursement of 75% of one repair invoice.
The partial reimbursement leaves some of the cost with the owner. A used A4 from those years deserves a check of whether such a repair was ever made, since the covered work addresses the very parts at the center of the dispute.
11. Audi Q5: Warranty Extended
The 2012-14 Q5 is included in Audi’s piston settlement over excessive oil consumption, which extended warranty coverage for repairs confirmed by a dealer oil consumption test, rather than paying owners directly.
Coverage depended on a dealer test confirming the problem, so documentation mattered. Used Q5 shoppers should ask for records of any such test, because the compact luxury crossover shares the issue with the A4 and A6 in the same case.
12. Audi A6: Third Audi On The List
Owners of the 2012-14 A6 could recover 75% of one paid repair for excessive oil consumption under Audi’s piston-ring settlement, which was filed in New Jersey federal court alongside the other models.
With the A6 included, the same settlement reaches Audi’s midsize sedan as well as its smaller models. Used buyers in that segment should treat repair receipts as a key part of the car’s story, since reimbursement turned on paid invoices.
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