Are Toyota Cars Expensive to Maintain?

Toyota vehicles are renowned for their exceptional reliability, but they still require proper maintenance to ensure they operate smoothly and last a long time. However, maintenance costs can add up quickly, so it’s essential to have at least a rough idea of how much you need to spend to keep your pride and joy in good shape. So, is a Toyota service expensive? Fortunately, it isn’t. In fact, Toyotas are cheaper to maintain than most other vehicles. Let’s find out more about the maintenance costs of Toyota models.

How Often Should You Service Your Toyota?

Toyota recommends taking your vehicle to a service center for routine maintenance once every six months or 5,000 miles. If you’re using conventional motor oil, you’ll get an oil change on every maintenance visit. Cars that use synthetic oil only need an oil change every other service. Usually, your vehicle will also undergo a fluid inspection and tire rotation during scheduled maintenance.

What Is Toyota’s No-Cost Maintenance Plan?

Whether you buy or lease a new Toyota, you’ll get complimentary scheduled maintenance for a limited time. As part of the ToyotaCare program, this plan covers all maintenance services recommended by Toyota for a period of two years or 25,000 miles, starting from the date of purchase or lease. You can transfer the coverage to a secondary owner as long as it’s still in effect.

While you’re eligible for free service, you’ll get genuine original equipment manufacturer parts if you need to replace any of your vehicle’s components at a Toyota service center. Some examples of services covered under ToyotaCare include oil and oil filter changes, tire rotations, and multipoint inspections.

How Much Does It Cost To Maintain a Toyota?

According to RepairPal, Toyota owners spend an average of $441 per year on routine maintenance. That’s at the low end compared to most other auto brands. One of the reasons why Toyotas have comparatively low maintenance costs is that they come with complimentary scheduled maintenance. Even without this coverage, Toyota vehicles remain among the most affordable to maintain and repair.

Most maintenance visits to a Toyota service center cost $100 to $200. Depending on the types of services you need, primary services, which are typically performed at the 30,000-mile and 60,000-mile marks, can cost anywhere from $300 to $600.

After your free service coverage has expired, you’ll have to pay for both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance out of your own pocket. Scheduled maintenance includes any manufacturer-recommended services that need to be done at specified intervals, such as oil and oil filter changes, tire rotations, and fluid top-ups. Unscheduled maintenance involves replacing components that can wear out over time, such as brake pads, tires, and windshield wipers. The following are some of the costs you can expect to pay on your service visits:

• Oil change: $131 to $145.
• Wheel alignment: $138 to $174.
• Wheel replacement: $847 to $858.
• Brake pad replacement: $259 to $300.
• Headlamp switch replacement: $163 to $189.

Your maintenance expenses may vary depending on which Toyota model you own. Typically, you’ll pay less in the first few years of ownership, as newer cars tend to experience fewer problems. Below, we’ll examine the maintenance costs of various Toyota vehicles from the 2018 model year. Please note that these estimates represent the costs that owners will incur from 2023 to 2028. By 2028, their cars will be 10 years old. However, most Toyotas can go well beyond 10 years if they’re properly maintained.

• 2018 Toyota Corolla: $4,679.
• 2018 Toyota Prius: $5,275.
• 2018 Toyota Camry: $4,602.
• 2018 Toyota RAV4: $6,038.
• 2018 Toyota Highlander: $5,714.

How Do Toyota Maintenance Costs Compare to Other Brands?

As mentioned earlier, Toyota vehicles have an average annual maintenance cost of $441. In comparison, Honda owners spend an average of $428 per year on maintenance, while Chevrolet and Ford owners spend an average of $649 and $775 per year, respectively. While it may not be the leader in terms of affordable maintenance, Toyota seems to be one of the safest bets if you want to keep your car-ownership costs low.

Nonetheless, certain Toyota models outperform others in their respective segments. Let’s compare the average five-year maintenance cost of the Camry with that of a few other popular midsize sedans.

• 2018 Toyota Camry: $4,602.
• 2018 Honda Accord: $4,694.
• 2018 Chevrolet Malibu: $4,745.
• 2018 Nissan Altima: $4,990.
• 2018 Ford Taurus: $6,021.

What Are the Most Common Toyota Repairs?

In addition to spending money on regular maintenance, you have to budget for car repairs, which can happen when you least expect them. Toyota is committed to producing highly dependable vehicles that can go the distance, but no car is immune to mechanical issues. Fortunately, the repair costs of Toyotas are more affordable compared to those of other brands. Let’s examine some common issues for specific Toyota models and the associated repair costs.

Toyota Camry

• Ignition switch replacement: $339 to $379.
• Door lock actuator replacement: $437 to $532.
• Traction control switch replacement: $147 to $154.

Toyota Prius

• Water pump replacement: $849 to $1,010.
• Mass airflow sensor replacement: $210 to $264.
• Air-conditioning condenser replacement: $695 to $871.

Toyota RAV4

• Brake pad replacement: $273 to $326.
• Air bag occupant sensor replacement: $512 to $533.
• Timing chain tensioner replacement: $554 to $662.

In many cases, these repairs occur when the vehicle has exceeded the 100,000- or 150,000-mile mark. So, you don’t have to worry about them in the first few years of ownership.

Get Top-Notch Toyota Maintenance Services at Classic Toyota

If you own a Toyota in Tyler, Texas, consider bringing it to Classic Toyota for regular maintenance. Serving Tyler, Mentor, Concord, Painesville, Willoughby, and Timberlake, our dealership features a state-of-the-art service center that provides a comprehensive range of auto maintenance and repair services. Whether you need an oil change or battery replacement, you can count on our factory-trained technicians to give your prized vehicle the best care and service. Furthermore, we also offer competitive prices and fantastic promotions to help you save money. Contact us today to schedule a service appointment.