Saving & Spending Home & Auto

13 Worst SUVs to Buy if You Hate Spending Money on Maintenance

Buyers should think twice about purchasing them.

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Updated March 18, 2025
Fact checked

Dealerships often overlook maintenance and repair costs when trying to sell SUVs. Unfortunately, those costs can become very expensive throughout the vehicle's lifetime. That's why, like vehicle owners shop around for car insurance, buyers should shop around for an SUV that doesn't cost too much to repair.

Fortunately, CarEdge has pulled together millions of car listings to determine which of today's most popular SUVs are most expensive to maintain. According to their data, here are 13 SUVs with the highest 10-year maintenance costs.

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Chevrolet Traverse

Courtesy of Chevrolet chevrolet traverse running

The Chevrolet Traverse will require around $9,123 in repair maintenance costs during its first 10 years on the road. That's $873 more than the average SUV.

With a 26.05% chance of requiring significant repair during that time, the Chevrolet Traverse is 2.58% more likely to need major repairs than other SUVs.

Chevrolet Blazer

Courtesy of Chevrolet a black chevrolet blazer on road

At $874 more than the average SUV, the Chevrolet Blazer requires around $9,124 in maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years in service.

There's a 26.05% chance the Chevrolet Blazer will need significant repairs during that period. It's 2.58% more likely to require major repairs than the average SUV.

Ford Edge

Courtesy of Ford ford edge on the run

The Ford Edge will accrue around $9,193 in repair and maintenance costs during its first 10 years in service, coming in at $943 more than other similar vehicles.

The Ford Edge is also 3.13% more likely to require major repairs than the average SUV during that time, with a 26.60% chance overall that it will require significant repairs.

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Ford Explorer

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A Ford Explorer typically costs $9,329 to repair and maintain during its first decade of ownership — $1,079 more than the average SUV.

During its first 10 years on the road, the Ford Explorer has a 26.60% chance of needing significant repairs. It's 3.13% more likely to require major repairs than the average SUV.

Chevrolet Suburban

Courtesy of Chevrolet a black chevrolet suburban parking

Consumers will spend around $9,537 on maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of owning a Chevrolet Suburban. Those costs are $1,287 more than the average SUV.

During this period, the Chevrolet Suburban has a 26.05% chance of needing a major repair. It's 2.58% more likely to require significant repair than others.

Chevrolet Tahoe

Courtesy of Chevrolet a blue chevrolet tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe has around $9,544 in repair and maintenance costs during its first 10 years on the road. That's $1,294 more than the average for other SUVs.

There is a 26.05% chance of the Chevrolet Tahoe needing significant repair during this period. It's 2.58% more likely to need a major repair than other similar vehicles.

Ford Expedition

Courtesy of Ford a white ford expedition on the road

Ford Expedition owners will spend around $9,758 on repairs and maintenance in the first 10 years. That's $1,508 more than the average SUV.

The Ford Expedition has a 26.60% chance of needing significant repairs during that period. It's 3.13% more likely to need a major repair than the average SUV.

Dodge Journey

Courtesy of Dodge dodge journey running

During its first 10 years of service, the Dodge Journey requires around $10,420 in repair and maintenance. That's $2,170 more than the average SUV.

Dodge Journey owners are also 7.52% more likely to be saddled with major repair costs than the average SUV owner. There is a 30.99% chance this SUV will need significant repair over the course of 10 years.

Jeep Compass

Courtesy of Jeep a gray jeep compass

Jeep Compass buyers will spend around $10,500 on repairs and maintenance during its first 10 years of service. That's around $2,250 more than the average SUV.

It also has a 31.13% chance of needing major repairs during this period. Similar SUVs are 7.66% more likely to require significant repair during that time.

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Jeep Cherokee

Courtesy of Jeep jeep cherokee parking beside a hill

Drivers with a Jeep Cherokee will spend around $10,607 on maintenance and repairs during their first 10 years of owning one. That's $2,357 more than the average SUV.

The Jeep Cherokee also has a 31.13% chance of needing significant repairs during its first 10 years on the road. It's 7.66% more likely to need a major repair than the average SUV.

Dodge Durango

Courtesy of Dodge a red dodge durango

Consumers will spend around $10,766 on maintenance and repairs for the Dodge Durango during their first 10 years of ownership. That's $2,516 more than the average SUV.

With a 30.99% chance of needing a major repair during that time, Dodge Durango owners are 7.25% more likely to pay for significant repair costs than the average SUV owner.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Courtesy of Jeep jeep grand cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee costs around $10,872 in maintenance and repairs during its first decade in service. That's $2,622 more than the average SUV.

Additionally, there is a 31.13% chance that the Jeep Grand Cherokee will require a major repair during this period. That's 7.66% more likely than the average SUV during that time.

Jeep Wrangler

Courtesy of Jeep a green jeep wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler requires approximately $10,662 in repairs and maintenance during its first decade on the road. That is $2,412 more than the average SUV.

The Jeep Wrangler is 7.66% more likely to need significant repairs during this period than the average SUV and a 31.13% chance that the Wrangler will require a major repair during that time.

Bottom line

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On average, car owners spend between $100 and $150 per month on maintenance costs. Considering that popular brands such as Jeep or Ford have average 10-year maintenance costs of $10,930 and $10,640 respectively, avoiding those brands could be a smart money move for car owners.

Otherwise, consumers could end up spending a significant amount of their vehicle's initial value on maintenance and repairs.

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