1 of the 5 most expensive cars to maintain in 2025 is a popular American brand
Braiden Shaw is a former D1 basketball player and BYU alum. He graduated with a degree in Finance with a focus on real estate. As the CEO of his home loan agency, he’s also a business and finance consultant. He recently shared a list of the most expensive cars to maintain with his 1.3 million Instagram followers. And one of these brands might surprise people…unless you already drive one.
“People either love them or hate them,” Shaw says, but in any case, Jeep placed 5th on the list of most expensive car brands to maintain these days.
Owners of all manner of models (myself included, Wrangler TJ) understand that maintenance is a big part of the Jeep experience.
Even brand-new Jeep cars face harsh criticisms over sudden and unexpected failures
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler has recurring electrical problems. One vehicle failed at just 2,000 miles due to a bad alternator, which damaged other critical components. Owners also reported non-functioning features like navigation and faulty key fobs. Consumer Reports listed it among the least reliable new vehicles of the year.
Drivers of the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee report mechanical and electrical failures. One owner’s vehicle stopped working after only 800 miles and sat at the dealership for weeks. A significant number of owners rated it poorly due to reliability concerns.
The 2025 Jeep Compass continues to struggle with engine issues. Its 2.4L MultiAir engine is known for excessive oil consumption, which can lead to long-term damage if not closely monitored. Some newer turbocharged versions may also require premium fuel, raising upkeep costs.
Additionally, some new Jeeps experienced glitches in the infotainment system, including unwanted ads appearing while driving. Stellantis confirmed this is a software issue affecting certain vehicles.
These problems point to ongoing concerns with build quality and long-term dependability across the Jeep lineup.
If you have a Jeep that’s 10-plus years old, expect steering, suspension, electrical, power window, and HVAC problems to pop up. That doesn’t even include coolant and oil leaks, which these SUVs are notorious for.
Let’s go ahead and finish out Shaw’s list of the 5 most expensive cars to maintain in 2025:
Range Rover
The CEO and expert investor says while this one is no surprise, he actually thought Range Rover would land higher on this list.
I just swapped my Range Rover Evoque for an Acura MDX, and can attest that my family spent much, much more than we’d have liked maintaining the Range Rover. The largest expense was a timing chain replacement…that one stung for sure.
“I would definitely lease a Range Rover if it’s your dream car,” Shaw advies.
Porsche
“I actually really like Porsche,” Shaw says. “They drive really well.” However, if you own one, “When you have to maintain it or fix it, it is so expensive to do it.”
Mercedes-Benz
Similar to Porsche, if you own a Mercedes, you’ll likely love the driving experience. Unfortunately, though, maintenance and replacement parts are very expensive. If something breaks in the air ride suspension, for instance, be ready to spend thousands.
Braiden Shaw didn’t think these sports cars would be the most expensive to maintain
It’s BMW. I’ve had several, and yeah, they were parked in a bay a lot more than, say, my Hondas or Toyotas. We still have an old 2004 325i, and just love it.
Shaw says the list proves that not all luxury cars are the best-made vehicles. “Don’t just keep up with the Joneses,” Shaw warns drivers. While these are all “flashy” and “cool,” you can pick them up for pretty cheap…”But there’s a reason you can pick them up for pretty cheap.”
After spending so much time in a shop myself, I’ve learned over the years that “disposable income” isn’t actually in the initial purchase of any of these cars. It’s in maintaining them over time. And that’s just a tough thing for most of us to do.
