Least reliable cars revealed – including popular Audi, BMW and Tesla models

Carwow’s latest YouTube video names the 10 least reliable cars and the average and most expensive amount of money it’s cost to repair them, according to repair requests made to Warrantywise, the UK’s leading provider of aftermarket warranties. This includes a surprising number of premium brands such as Audi, BMW, Range Rover and Tesla.

• The top 10 least reliable cars included premium brands: Audi (3), Range Rover (2), Tesla (2), BMW (2), Maserati (1) and Land Rover (1)
• The least reliable car on the Warrantywise reliability index was the BMW i8
• Data from aftermarket warranty provider, Warrantywise, shows average claim costs of least reliable cars range from £1,020 to £3,039 with biggest repair cost of £31,946

The reliability index is based on data from thousands of breakdowns and car-related repairs owners have requested for through aftermarket warranties from Warrantywise.

Only cars that had 100 aftermarket warranty plans or more were included in the reliability index, and all cars had to be between three and 10 years old. Each car was scored out of 100, with the least reliable cars getting the lowest scores.

The 10 cars with the lowest scores in the reliability index from Warrantywise were:

• 10th: Range Rover Sport (previous generation)
  Score 34.6/100
  Average repair cost: £2,280
  Most expensive repair cost: £30,252The average cost Warrantywise paid to repair the previous generation Range Rover Sport was £2,280, but one with a serious engine fault had a repair that cost £30,252 to fix.

  

• 9th (joint): Audi A7 and Seat Leon Cupra
  Score 33.4/100
  Average repair cost: £2,367/£1,020

  

  

  Although the average repair costs for the Audi A7 and Seat Leon Cupra were £2,367 and £1,020 respectively, for cars registered between 2014 and 2022, some faults were much more expensive to repair. One Audi A7 had a serious engine fault, but although repair costs for the Seat Leon Cupra were a lot less, the owners’ repair requests showed there was more chance of something going wrong and at a lower mileage than the Audi A7.

• 8th: Audi RS3
  Score: 32.1/100
  Average repair cost: £3,039
  Most expensive repair cost: £9,500

  

  Another Audi car came in at eighth position in Warrantywise’s reliability index. The previous generation RS3 (8V) was eighth with an average repair cost of £3,039, although one model needed a new gearbox at £9,500.

• 7th: Audi RS6
  Score: 30.3
  Average repair cost: £2,079
  Most expensive repair cost: £18,581

  

  In seventh was the Audi RS6, or specifically the C7 and early C8 models, with electrical problems being the most common issues. Average repair costs to Warrantywise were £2,079, but one car had a repair request to do with brakes totalling £18,581.

• 6th: Tesla Model S
  Score: 25.9/100
  Average repair cost: £1,281
  Most expensive repair cost: £10,205

  

  The Tesla Model S was in sixth place thanks to electrical issues resulting in an average repair cost of £1,281 to fix, although one major battery problem (outside the eight year or 150,000 mile warranty) resulted in a repair request for £10,205.

• 5th: Maserati Levante
  Score: 25.3/100
  Average repair cost: £2,974

  

  At fifth was the Maserati Levante, although there wasn’t one single common issue, just lots of different ones making an average warranty repair cost of £2,974.

• 4th: Tesla Model X
  Score: 24.6/100
  Average repair cost: £1,181
  Most expensive repair cost: £4,704

  

  In fourth place was another Tesla, this time the Model X, which has experienced suspension problems. Average repair costs were £1,181.

• 3rd: BMW M3
  Score: 24/100
  Average repair cost: £2,451
  Most expensive repair cost: £12,115

  

  The BMW M3 was the third least reliable car mainly due to issues related to the twin turbos on the S55 engine. The average repair cost was £2,451; however, a transmission failure in one car resulted in a repair request of £12,115.

• 2nd (joint): Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5, and Range Rover (previous generation)
  Score: 22.1/100
  Average repair cost: £2,041/£1,834
  Most expensive repair request: £25,695/£26,062

  

  

  In joint second place were the Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5 and the previous generation Range Rover. Both suffered electrical faults with similar average repair costs. The Discovery cost an average of £2,041 in repair costs with the Range Rover slightly less at £1,834. But both had engine fault repair requests costing £25,695 and £26,062 respectively.

• 1st: BMW i8
  Score: 16.5/100
  Average repair cost: £2,006
  Most expensive repair request: £7,530The car that came out as the least reliable car with the lowest score on Warrtantywise’s reliability index was the BMW i8. The most requested repairs Warrantywise received for it were issues with its electrical system, with an average repair value of £2,006.

  

Looking at all car categories, the least reliable cars were:

City car: Smart ForFour
Score: 60.9/100
Average repair cost: £949
Most expensive repair request: £5,817

• Hatchback: Mini Clubman/DS5
  Score: 57.8/100
  Average repair cost: £1,506
  Most expensive repair request: £8,768

  

• Small saloon/estate: BMW M3
  Score: 24/100
  Average repair cost: £2,451
  Most expensive repair request: £12,115

  

• Large saloon/estate: Tesla Model S
  Score: 25.9/100
  Average repair cost: £1,281
  Most expensive repair request: £10,205

  

• Limo: BMW 7 series
  Score: 39.0/100
  Average repair cost: £1,965
  Most expensive repair request: £11,826

  

• Small/mid-size SUV: Audi SQ5 (2014 to 2021)
  Score: 40.9/100
  Average repair cost: £2,047
  Most expensive repair request: £10,678

  

• Large SUV: Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5/Range Rover (previous generation)
  Score: 22.1/100
  Average repair cost: £2,041/£1,834
  Most expensive repair request: £25,695/£26,062

  

  

• 7-seater: Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5
  Score: 22.1/100
  Average repair cost: £2,041
  Most expensive repair request: £25,695

  

• Sports Car: BMW i8
  Score: 16.5/100
  Average repair cost: £2,006
  Most expensive repair request: £7,530

  

• Hot hatch: Audi RS3
  Score: 32.1/100
  Average repair cost: £3,039
  Most expensive repair request: £9,500

  

• Pickup: Volkswagen Amarok (first generation)
  Score: 41.5/100
  Average repair cost: £1,547
  Most expensive repair request: £5,223

  

If you want to know more about electric car depreciation, check out the Fastest Depreciating Electric Cars of 2024.

Disclaimer: Warrantywise believes the information contained herein to be accurate at the time of release. However, the company may upload new or updated information if required and assumes that it is not liable for the accuracy of any information interpreted and used by the reader.

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