Are Hyundais Expensive to Maintain?

If you are wondering, "Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?", the answer is generally no, with average annual maintenance and repair costs below the industry average.

For American vehicle owners, maintenance costs are often seen as a grudge purchase because funds are spent on something they cannot see or touch, leading many to skimp on necessary maintenance.

Purchasing a vehicle like a Hyundai with lower-than-average annual maintenance costs will lessen the heartache of spending your hard-earned dollars to keep your car running at optimal fuel efficiency and performance. Importantly, it will help minimize the risk of catastrophic, expensive repair bills resulting from inadequate or poor-quality maintenance. For buyers asking, "Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?", these below-average costs are an important factor to consider.

• Annual maintenance and repair costs are around $468, compared with an industry average of $652.
• Hyundai offers vehicle buyers the best factory warranty in the USA.
• Driving conditions, mileage, vehicle complexity, and maintenance habits can affect long-term costs.

Hyundai's Overall Reliability Rating

A quick bit of online research reveals that Hyundai commands a 4.0 out of 5.0 rating on RepairPal, ranking 4th out of 32 mainstream car brands and averaging a highly competitive 70 out of 100 across all its models on the Auto Reliability Index.

Research also reveals that Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai USA models in the middle-to-upper tier of mainstream car brands for new-car reliability, with low annual repair costs.

Which Model of Hyundai Is Best?

The Hyundai Elantra achieves top marks for reliability in the United States, with a rating of up to 94/100 in the most recent Auto Reliability Index survey.

What's the Average Annual Maintenance Cost for a Hyundai?

According to online research using RepairPal data, your Hyundai vehicle typically averages $468 per year in routine maintenance and repairs. This helps answer the question: "Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?", especially when compared with the industry average of $652 per year.

Over a 10-year ownership period, your Hyundai should cost you around an average of $7,024 in necessary maintenance and upkeep, which is still well below the norm for the American automotive industry.

Hyundai vs. Competitor Brands

It's always helpful to know what you are in for when making important financial decisions, like buying your next car.

Aside from the obvious upfront purchase price of a new-to-you vehicle, a great place to start your car-buying homework is by comparing maintenance and repair costs to ensure you are not unwittingly buying yourself a money pit.

Hyundai vs. Toyota and Honda

Toyota is the world's top automaker, thanks to its enviable reputation for simple, durable engineering, predictable maintenance needs, and a wide network of independent workshops and spare parts availability that support its top-selling models.

On average, Toyota owners spend $500 to $600 annually to keep their vehicles running, according to RepairPal.

Honda owners will pay about $428-$441 per year on average to maintain their vehicles. Honda owners in the USA enjoy lower labor costs due to the greater availability of independent mechanics to service their vehicles, as well as numerous aftermarket spare parts.

Hyundai vs. Ford

Whereas the average for Hyundai, as we've already learned, is around $468 per annum, Ford owners on average will be spending around $581 per annum.

It's always good to keep in mind that annual maintenance costs for specific models across all automotive brands will vary due to the engineering, complexity, and build of different vehicles. For Ford, the majority of their vehicles sold are heavy-duty truck variants, which will skew their average annual maintenance cost.

Hyundai vs. Industry Average Cost

A quick bit of online research will reveal that on average, a Hyundai owner in the USA spends about $468 per year on routine maintenance and repairs.

The overall industry average spend is around $652 per year, and for those mathematicians among us, this equates to a roughly 28% difference in cost, a not-so-insignificant saving when household budgets are under pressure.

Cost by Hyundai Model

For convenience, our table below provides a quick overview of annual maintenance costs for newer Hyundai models, based on RepairPal estimated average costs data. Where RepairPal cannot provide enough specific model annual costs, Hyundai's average maintenance cost has been used. If you're wondering "Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?", comparing their typical maintenance costs with competing brands can help put the numbers into perspective.

It's of interest to prospective buyers of Hyundai's fully electric vehicles, such as the Ioniq 5, that EV models require fewer routine services and the associated costs because they are not powered by a traditional internal combustion engine with service requirements involving oil changes, oil, fuel and air filters, spark plugs, and timing belts.

Hyundai's Warranty Coverage

Hyundai offers vehicle buyers the best factory warranty in the USA, which Hyundai USA calls "America's Best Warranty."

This industry-leading warranty provides cover for:

• 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty
• 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty
• 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation coverage
• 5-year/unlimited-mile 24-hour roadside assistance
• Complimentary maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles, comprising normal routine oil changes and tire rotations

Hyundai's Hybrid and EV models also get a 10-year/100,000-mile EV battery warranty.

America's Best Warranty doesn't stop there. Hyundai also offers parts, accessories, and emissions warranty coverage that offers:

• 1-year/unlimited-miles limited warranty on genuine replacement parts and accessories
• 8-year/80,000-mile Federal Emission Defect and Performance Warranty
• 7-year/70,000-mile California Emissions Control Systems Warranty

Complimentary Maintenance Programs

A bonus for eligible new Hyundai vehicle owners in the USA for model years 2020 through 2025 is a complimentary maintenance program that covers normal factory-scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
This complimentary coverage has, however, been discontinued for the 2026 model year and newer vehicles.

Common Repairs and Their Costs

An average modern vehicle has about 30,000 individual parts, including all the nuts and bolts that hold it together.

That's an awful lot of parts to keep in 100% working condition. Granted, not all parts require regular maintenance, but there's still plenty of major components and systems that require regular servicing and repairs.

Engine and Transmission Issues

Car engines and transmissions are subjected to extreme loads and heat that, without regular maintenance, can lead to costly repair bills in the event of a major breakdown, which can make Hyundais expensive to maintain.

Hyundai's 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Theta II engines found in Hyundai models produced from the late 2000s through to mid-2010 suffer from the most issues: excessive oil consumption from piston ring wear, rod bearing failures resulting in engine knocking, unexpected engine stalling, and carbon buildup on the valves of Hyundai's GDI engines.

Repairing your older Hyundai engine due to excessive oil consumption, along with copious blue smoke from the exhaust and loss of power, is not as simple as just replacing the worn piston rings.

Replacing worn piston rings typically costs between $1,500 and $4,500 in labor alone due to the extensive time required to strip down the engine.

Add to that cost any additional engineering work required to hone the cylinder bores to repair correctly, plus a new head gasket, additional gaskets, and oils, etc. Before you know it, your repair bill has rocketed. Because of this high rebuild cost, most workshops recommend a short-block replacement, which costs anywhere from $3,500 to $7,500.

A full engine swap at a Hyundai dealership generally ranges from $5,500 to $9,000. In contrast, some independent shops or dealerships can quote $11,000-$12,000, depending on whether a brand-new or remanufactured complete engine is fitted.

Repairing a rod knock costs between $4,000 and $8,500, depending on the extent of the damage. However, if your Hyundai qualifies under the class-action settlement or extended lifetime warranty, Hyundai will cover the repair or replacement cost completely free of charge.

Typically, cleaning carbon buildup from intake valves on a GDI engine costs between $350 and $750 at an independent workshop.

Electrical and Battery Repairs

The extensive electronics in all modern vehicles mean there are simply more things to go wrong.

Common electrical repairs involve various sensors and ABS/HECU module internal issues, such as a drained battery, with costs running around $700 to $1,300.

Your car's battery may have corroded terminals, costing around $50 to $150 to fix, while a failing alternator or starter motor costs around $300 to $600.

What Factors Affect Maintenance Cost?

Many factors will influence your maintenance costs, but final expenses will vary based on the Hyundai model's complexity, driving conditions, service frequency, and, of course, vehicle age and mileage.

Age and Mileage Impact

Older Hyundai vehicles with high mileage are subject to issues like higher rates of degradation of rubber components like bushings and hoses, plastic parts becoming brittle, sensors wearing out, and wheel bearings starting to run rough with wear, along with electrical issues as a result of years of vibration and any movement of wiring and connectors.

Driving Conditions and Habits

Your driving conditions may entail frequent stop-and-start heavy traffic in the city, extreme heat, or even freezing temps, all of which place additional stress on a vehicle's components.

An aggressive driving style will also accelerate wear and tear on all your Hyundai's components, particularly the braking system.

10-Year Ownership Cost Breakdown

Buyers of new Hyundais will enjoy the benefits of their 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which protects against major repair costs. Combined with Hyundai's relatively low routine maintenance costs, this coverage can make Hyundais less expensive to maintain over the long term.

These owners can expect to pay, on average, around $7,024 for routine upkeep and repairs over the first 10 years.

Some common service costs are:

• Oil changes at $213 to $244
• Tire rotation at around $79 to $101
• Transmission fluid change between $254 and $281
• Brake pad replacement costs about $846 to $944
• Spark plug replacement costs $325 to $380

Why Get Your Hyundai at Hyundai of Saco

Hyundai of Saco in Saco, ME, is conveniently open Monday through Saturday and offers amazing customer service. For drivers wondering, "Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?", our team can also help explain the expected maintenance and ownership costs of different Hyundai models.

Our dealership offers Hyundai owners and prospective buyers the best in sales advice and financial advice, along with excellent after-sales services and repairs for your Hyundai.