Hyundai Maintenance: Cost, Plans and Service Schedule

Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?

RepairPal data suggests that Hyundai vehicles cost $468 per year to maintain and repair on average. That’s well below the industry average of $652 per year and only slightly above the costs for brands with strong reputations for reliability, such as Honda and Toyota.

How Hyundai compares with other automakers

Hyundai’s vehicles often score well in reliability ratings, and brands with high reliability typically have lower maintenance and repair costs. RepairPal gives Hyundai a reliability score of 4 out of 5 stars, ranking it No. 4 out of 32 car brands. J.D. Power ranked Hyundai slightly lower (No. 12 out of 28 brands) in its 2026 dependability study. Still, Hyundais are generally considered reliable and cost-effective.

Hyundai maintenance and repair costs by model

The $468 annual figure is an average across Hyundai’s lineup, so individual models can have much higher or lower expected upkeep costs. As an example of these differences, here are the estimated annual maintenance and repair costs for a few popular models.

These statistics include both maintenance and repair costs, even though these expenses require you to budget in very different ways. Maintenance costs tend to be lower and more consistent, while repair costs are less frequent but more expensive.

Hyundai maintenance cost and schedule

While some automakers have uniform maintenance recommendations for every vehicle, Hyundai sets distinct maintenance schedules for different models. That means you’ll need to check your owner's manual, Hyundai’s website or resources from your local dealership to see exactly what maintenance services your vehicle needs and when they’re due.

Example: 2026 Hyundai Tucson maintenance schedule

Just to show you what a Hyundai maintenance schedule looks like, we pulled the recommended maintenance plan for a 2026 Hyundai Tucson and included it in the table below.

Once you know your recommended maintenance schedule, you can check what your local mechanic charges for the services and map out those costs over time to create a maintenance budget.

Example: 2024 Hyundai Elantra maintenance costs

To give you an idea of what your Hyundai may cost to maintain, we got estimates for a 2024 Hyundai Elantra in Austin, Texas. Note that prices for your vehicle, model and location may differ.

Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance plan

Hyundai offers free maintenance for eligible 2020 model-year and newer vehicles, which can significantly reduce your upfront maintenance costs for a new Elantra or Santa Fe during your first few years of ownership.

Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance covers normal, factory-scheduled maintenance intervals for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Covered services generally include:

• Engine oil and filter changes (except electric models)
• Tire rotations
• Multipoint inspections
• Hyundai Genuine oil filters
• Hyundai-recommended oil

These plans won’t cover more frequent maintenance than what your owner's manual recommends, though, so you might still have to pay for some maintenance if you routinely drive in severe conditions.

Hyundai repair costs

Repair costs are harder to predict than maintenance costs because breakdowns are unexpected and repairs are often more expensive. A single major repair can make one year look very costly, even if your average costs over several years are reasonable.

The better you take care of your Hyundai, the less likely you are to deal with expensive repairs.

For example, RepairPal estimates that the average Hyundai costs its owner $468 per year in maintenance and repairs, but you likely won’t have many years where you actually spend that amount. It’s more likely that you’ll have several years when you only pay for routine maintenance and a few years with significant repair bills.

Over time, this may average to about $468 per year, but your budget needs to be prepared for that variability. That’s why it’s important to know what repairs might cost — you need to budget for them differently than you budget for maintenance.

Example: 2024 Hyundai Elantra repair costs

Here are some estimated repair costs for the same 2024 Elantra we got maintenance estimates for above.

To budget for repairs, it helps to understand the potential cost of specific repairs and how likely they are for your vehicle. For example, a head gasket replacement is almost always very expensive, but many owners of reliable vehicles never need that repair. So, what’s Hyundai’s reliability record?

RepairPal’s data show that Hyundai vehicles average 0.3 visits to the repair shop each year, slightly below the industry average. Only about 10% of those visits involve a severe problem, compared with about 12% across the industry.

Hyundai warranty coverage and what to know

A strong warranty can reduce your out‑of‑pocket repair costs, especially during the first several years you own your vehicle. At the time of writing, new Hyundais typically come with:

• A 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
• A 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty

For context, that’s among the best new-car warranty offerings on the market — but it’s still important to read the fine print. Some owners report frustration with warranty claims and diagnostic fees.

“While the customer service was generally good, the handling of warranty-related concerns left much to be desired,” said Emilie, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Florida. “My car is still under warranty, and I've been experiencing a troubling issue with the steering wheel making a loud noise when I release the brakes. ... Upon approaching the dealership, I was informed that I would need to pay for a diagnostic to determine if the issue falls under warranty. This was surprising and somewhat frustrating, as one would expect warranty-covered problems to be diagnosed without an additional cost. … The process of having to pay for a diagnostic to ascertain warranty coverage seems counterintuitive and raises questions about transparency.”

Author’s note: As a professional mechanic, there were many years when Hyundai cars were known for being unreliable. We had gotten to know every problem and issue that the brand had because many of the cars would suffer the same fates. However, in recent years, Hyundais have become far more reliable, inching up to near the top of the reliability charts.

Experiences vary by dealership and situation, but this highlights why it can be helpful to understand warranty terms in detail and to ask about diagnostic policies up front. Hyundai also shortens the length of its powertrain coverage to 5 years/60,000 miles from the original purchase date for anyone who’s not the vehicle’s first owner.

How to save on Hyundai repair costs

Beyond factory warranties and complimentary maintenance, there are several ways to reduce your long-term Hyundai repair bills:

• Stick to the maintenance schedule. Following the factory-recommended service schedule can help prevent small issues from becoming major repairs.
• Use a trusted mechanic. Building a relationship with a reliable, well-reviewed mechanic can help you avoid upsells and get honest advice on necessary repairs.
• Compare service quotes. Don’t be afraid to get multiple quotes for any major repair to find the most competitive price in your area.
• Buy parts online. In some cases, purchasing parts yourself and paying only for labor can save money, as long as the parts are compatible and meet Hyundai specifications.
• Learn to do small maintenance tasks. You can do simple things like replacing air filters or changing windshield wipers at home to save money over time.
• Drive gently. Avoiding hard braking, rapid acceleration and rough roads can extend the life of many vehicle components.

When you’re consistent with these strategies, your Hyundai can run longer with less financial strain from unexpected repairs.

How can an extended warranty help?

Once your manufacturer’s warranty and any complimentary maintenance coverage end, you’re responsible for any expensive services. Extended warranties and prepaid maintenance plans can help you manage those expenses, but you’ll need to find the right ones to come out ahead financially.

Prepaid maintenance plans let you lock in a price for future services, which can save you money if labor or parts prices increase due to inflation. If you’re more concerned with paying for repairs after your Hyundai factory warranty ends, extended warranties pay to repair your vehicle after a breakdown.

There’s no guarantee that your warranty will save you money in your situation, so it’s important to do your research and be aware of the pros and cons of these types of plans. Hyundai offers its own prepaid maintenance and extended warranty plans, but they aren’t your only options.

To find the right plan, we recommend shopping around among maintenance plan offers and extended warranty companies and getting multiple quotes for your vehicle. That way, you have the context to know if you’re truly getting a good deal.

» MORE: Car warranty vs. car insurance

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