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13 brands ranked by yearly repair bills, from a $1,192 Porsche to a $428 Honda

RepairPal rates 32 car brands on reliability, and the average annual repair bill differs sharply from one badge to the next. Across all models the typical owner pays $652 a year, according to the site’s brand pages. Here are thirteen brands, ordered from a $1,192 Porsche down to a $428 Honda.

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1. Porsche: Last of 32 Brands

Porsche — Image Credit: Calreyn88 - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Calreyn88 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

RepairPal ranks Porsche last of 32 brands at 2.0 out of 5, with owners averaging $1,192 a year in repairs and a 21% chance of a major repair.

That annual bill is about 1.8 times the $652 all-model average, and the chance of a major repair adds risk on top of routine costs. Anyone buying a used Porsche can budget for maintenance up front and look closely at service history and warranty options before signing.

2. Land Rover: Second From Last

Land Rover — Image Credit: Vauxford - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Vauxford – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Land Rover owners average $1,174 a year in repairs, ranking the brand 31st of 32, versus $652 across all models.

Only $18 separates the brand from Porsche’s $1,192, so the two sit nearly level at the expensive end of the list. Prospective buyers of a used Land Rover should plan for repair costs well above average and compare coverage plans before choosing a vehicle. Asking an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection is a sensible step.

3. Jaguar: Twenty-Ninth of 32

Jaguar — Image Credit: Retired electrician - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Retired electrician – CC0/Wiki Commons

Jaguar averages $1,123 a year in repairs across its models and ranks 29th of 32 brands.

That bill sits $471 above the all-model average of $652, a gap large enough to matter in a household budget. Shoppers drawn to the brand’s styling can offset some of the risk by buying a certified car with a manufacturer-backed warranty and a documented maintenance record. The yearly figure is an average across models, so the exact cost of a particular Jaguar will depend on its age and condition.

4. BMW: Thirtieth Despite Lower Bills

BMW — Image Credit: Alexander-93 - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Alexander-93 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

The average BMW costs $968 a year to repair, landing the brand 30th of 32 on RepairPal’s list.

That annual figure is lower than Jaguar’s $1,123, yet BMW places one spot worse, so the position clearly reflects more than the yearly dollar amount alone. Owners can still expect a bill well above the $652 average and should budget for it when buying used. Setting aside a repair fund and choosing a car with a thorough service history can soften the blow when something does fail.

5. Lincoln: Twenty-Fourth of 32

Lincoln — Image Credit: Dinkun Chen - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Dinkun Chen – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Lincoln models average $879 a year in repairs, 24th of 32 brands.

The brand sits six places ahead of BMW on the list, though its bill remains $227 above the $652 all-model average. Luxury shoppers comparing American and German badges can use the gap to weigh repair costs against comfort, features and resale value. Because the figure is an average across models, a newer Lincoln with remaining warranty coverage may cost far less than the brand number suggests.

6. GMC: Twenty-Second of 32

GMC — Image Credit: HJUdall - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: HJUdall – CC0/Wiki Commons

GMC owners average $744 a year in repairs, ranking 22nd of 32.

That is $92 above the $652 average and $135 less than Lincoln’s $879. Buyers choosing a GMC for its trucks and SUVs can treat the figure as a moderate premium rather than an extreme one, while still asking for service records on any used vehicle. Checking each truck’s maintenance history and any remaining coverage is still the best way to judge what a specific vehicle may cost.

7. Chrysler: Under the Average

Chrysler — Image Credit: Alexander-93 - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Alexander-93 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

A Chrysler averages $608 a year in repairs, good for 11th of 32 brands.

It is the first brand on this list to come in under the $652 all-model average, by $44 a year. The result suggests the Chrysler badge is far less costly to keep running than the luxury names above it, which may appeal to buyers focused on long-term ownership costs. Used shoppers can add the savings to a purchase budget, though the age and mileage of any individual car still deserve a careful look.

8. Nissan: Rated Four or Higher

Nissan — Image Credit: HJUdall - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: HJUdall – CC0/Wiki Commons

Nissan is one of eight brands RepairPal rates 4 or higher, with repairs averaging $500 a year.

A $500 bill is $152 below the all-model average. Shoppers who want a lower repair bill without moving to the very bottom of the cost table can look at this group of eight, which includes several of the brands that follow on the list. Even so, an inspection before buying remains wise, because a brand average cannot show how the previous owner treated a particular car.

9. Kia: A Lower Bill at $474

Kia — Image Credit: Elise240SX - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Elise240SX – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Kia earns a RepairPal reliability rating of 4 or higher, with repairs averaging $474 a year.

That is $26 less than Nissan and $178 below the all-model average of $652. For buyers weighing value-oriented brands, the number points to a modest repair burden, though individual cars still vary with age, mileage and how well they were maintained. Pairing that figure with the car’s service record gives a more reliable picture than either one used alone.

10. Hyundai: Almost Level With Kia

Hyundai — Image Credit: MercurySable99 - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: MercurySable99 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Hyundai owners average $468 a year in repairs, among the eight brands rated 4 or higher.

That is six dollars less than Kia’s $474, so the two related brands finish almost level on cost. Shoppers comparing the pair have little to separate them on repair bills and can instead decide on features, warranty terms, pricing and local dealer service. A rating of 4 or higher is shared by a group of eight brands, so the broader point is that several makers offer low repair costs.

11. Mazda: Six Dollars Cheaper

Mazda — Image Credit: Mr.choppers - CC BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Mr.choppers – CC BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons

Mazda averages $462 a year in repairs, one of RepairPal’s eight brands rated 4 or higher.

The six-dollar gap to Hyundai’s $468 repeats the pattern of tight spacing across this group. Buyers can reasonably treat the brands in the low $400s and $500 range as a cluster rather than agonizing over a few dollars a year. Maintenance history and mileage will usually matter more to an individual car’s bill than that small difference between neighboring brands.

12. Toyota: Severe Repairs Are Rare

Toyota — Image Credit: Elise240SX - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Elise240SX – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Toyota rates 4.0 out of 5, 8th of 32, with $441 a year in repairs and just 12% of repairs considered severe.

Only $13 separates the brand from Honda’s $428, and the low share of severe repairs matters because major jobs can do more damage to a household budget than routine ones. Used-car shoppers often start with Toyota for exactly that reason. It is also the second-lowest annual bill shown here, behind only Honda.

13. Honda: Lowest Bill on the List

Honda — Image Credit: Elise240SX - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Elise240SX – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Honda posts the lowest bill on the list at $428 a year, among RepairPal’s brands rated 4 or higher.

That is $224 below the $652 all-model average and $764 below Porsche’s $1,192. The spread shows how much the badge on a car can change the yearly cost of keeping it on the road, which is worth weighing alongside the purchase price. Even the cheapest brand still averages hundreds of dollars a year, so a repair budget remains sensible no matter which badge a buyer chooses.

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