I'm a Mechanic: 4 High-Maintenance American-Made Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet

Yahoo

22-06-2025

When you buy a car made in the U.S., you're often expecting reliability, performance and value. However, not all American-made vehicles live up to that promise, especially when it comes to long-term maintenance.
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GOBankingRates spoke to Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot, who shared four American-made cars that cost many people thousands in repairs.
The Cadillac CTS is a luxury car on the outside, but under the hood, it's a different story. The 'CTS model experiences three main issues that raise its repair costs: timing chain problems, electrical system failures and transmission system issues,' Gelfand said
Most of these repairs could cost anywhere between $1,200 and $3,500-plus, depending on the nature of the problem. And since Cadillac is a luxury car, replacement parts and labor can be on the pricier side.
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The 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is another high-maintenance American-made car Gelfand has noticed.
'The Jeeps are notorious in the automotive repair world for having a plethora of issues,' Gelfand said. 'These Grand Cherokees in particular experience transmission failures together with electrical problems that affect the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) to trigger various electronic system breakdowns.'
The Ford Explorer's most expensive problem often comes from the water pump, located within the engine's timing cover. 'Since the pump is located inside the timing cover, it can cause severe engine damage,' Gelfand said.
The water pump issue, alongside transmission issues and power steering problems, can lead to pricey repairs between $1,500 and $5,000 in some cases.
High-performance vehicles like the Chevrolet Camaro SS and ZL1 trims deliver thrilling driving experiences, but this comes with a cost. These high-performance cars can experience accelerated wear due to the extreme stresses of a high-horsepower operation, even during normal driving conditions.
Frequent repairs include 'suspension overhauls, clutch replacements and cooling system issues,' with average repair bills ranging between $1,000 and $4,500-plus, Gelfand said.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I'm a Mechanic: 4 High-Maintenance American-Made Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet