New data shows how some auto repairs just aren’t worth it
Auto repairs can be costly, and prices for the service are increasing as the U.S. imposes tariffs on imported parts. Electric vehicle (EV) repairs can be especially costly, as the repair service market for this car class is projected to rise by $40.06 billion this year, according to NexusMedia, which cites insights from EasySearch. However, auto repairs can cost you in ways that extend beyond immediate expenses.
Some repairs can reduce your vehicle’s resale value by as much as 45%, underscoring the importance of knowing when to hold on to a vehicle for repair or sell and cut losses. Hybrid or EV batteries were ranked as the most expensive part to repair, averaging $12,500 to fix, with an estimated $9,000 loss in resale value, or 45%. Engine and cylinder fixes were second behind hybrid or electric batteries at a $7,000 average repair and a $8,000 or 40% resale value decrease. Drivers were listed as searching online about engine and cylinder fixes the most, with 2.46 million related searches. Automatic gearboxes ranked third with an average cost of $5,000 to fix and a $7,000 or 35% resale value hit. Transmissions weren’t far behind at a $4,500 average repair cost and $6,000 or 30% estimated value loss.
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Another expensive EV and hybrid part to repair is an inverter, which typically costs $3,500, resulting in a $4,000 or 20% decline in value. Still, data indicates that this repair is less common, as the study only noted 62,500 related searches online—the list’s third-lowest number of searches. Air suspension, if not included in the broader suspension category, poses an average repair cost of $2,750 and a $3,000 or 15% drop in resale value, but it received the lowest number of related online searches at 17,600. Airbags and suspension both carry an average repair bill of $2,500, but airbag fixes have a significantly more pronounced impact on resale value, at $5,000 or 25%, compared to the latter’s $2,400 or 12%. Head gasket and turbocharger repairs cost drivers $2,250 upfront. However, head gasket service results in an estimated $3,000 or 15% decrease in resale value, while turbochargers can reduce resales by $2,400 or 12%.
EV vs. internal combustion engine (ICE) repairs: a driver’s dilemma
“The era of ‘fix it until it dies’ car ownership is rapidly coming to an end, replaced by a more calculated approach where repair decisions increasingly resemble stock trading, with knowing when to hold, and when to cut your losses. Today’s drivers face a paradox: while electric and hybrid vehicles promise lower lifetime maintenance costs, a single catastrophic component failure can instantly wipe out years of fuel savings and render an otherwise functional car financially toxic,” a NexusMedia spokesperson said.
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Final thoughts
The growing complexity of vehicles, especially hybrids and EVs, means that repairs are getting more expensive, requiring specialized training and equipment. Even if you don’t drive a hybrid or an EV, advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) such as autonomous tech are increasing the list of pricey repairs motorists face. Given this landscape, drivers should consider potential repair costs and their subsequent impact on resale value as among the primary factors making or breaking their next vehicle purchase.