Used cars that suffer the fewest ‘check engine’ problems
Here are the models that make the least number of trips to the service department for “check engine light” issues
With a large number of two- and three-year-old leased vehicles returning to dealerships, it’s never been a better time to shop for a late-model used car or crossover SUV. But as we all know, buying secondhand goods of any kind can be risky. That’s why car-buying experts always suggest taking a pre-owned vehicle to a trusted mechanic for examination before signing a bill of sale.
Even though a late-model used car may come with a portion of the automaker’s original warranty in effect and fully transferable, it’s still a hassle to drive or have it towed to a dealer’s service department or local repair shop every time the “check engine” light on the instrument panel illuminates.
That makes it imperative to choose a model that’s not only in excellent condition at the time of purchase, but one that’s inherently less prone to suffer mechanical difficulties than others.
To that end, the statisticians at the auto-service website CarMD.com in Irvine, California, compile an annual Vehicle Health Index that highlights the cars and trucks from recent model years that historically suffer the fewest check-enginelight-related problems. This year’s results are based upon reported repairs for more than 5.6 million new and used cars from 1996 through 2018.
We’re featuring the 10 vehicles from recent model years that are least likely to require check-engine-light repairs in the accompanying box.
Among vehicle brands, Mazda cars and crossovers had the lowest check-enginerelated repair costs at an average $286 per visit. Next up is Kia ($320), Dodge ($326), Hyundai ($328), Chrysler ($329), Jeep ($339), Chevrolet ($341) and Volkswagen ($358).
The vehicle CarMD.com determined is the cheapest to repair with regard to checkengine-light-related issues is the 2017 Hyundai Tuscon crossover SUV, with an average cost per visit of just $67. Also populating the list of cheapest-to-fix vehicles is the 2017 Hyundai Accent ($69), 2016 Kia Rio ($70), 2014 Toyota Prius C ($83), 2017 Kia Soul ($88) and the 2016 Kia Forte ($89).
It should be noted, however, that check-engine repairs are generally related to a vehicle’s emissions system, with the most common symptom being a loose, damaged, or missing gas cap. Vehicles that have a high percentage of finicky gas caps, like the above models,
often have lower average repair costs simply because the issue is so cheap to resolve.
On the other hand, the costliest check-engine-signified repairs can run as high as $7,050 if the engine
needs replacing. Other related budget-busting fixes include replacing the electronic power steering control unit ($5,201), replacing the transmission assembly ($5,130), replacing the transmission and torque converter ($5,051), and replacing the audio/visual control unit ($4,293).