Annual DIY Maintenance Costs for Vehicles >100K miles

[The Critic]

For those of us who are obsessive recordkeepers, what is your annual DIY spend on vehicle maintenance/repair for vehicles with >100K miles?

One of the vehicles I maintain (pro-bono) is a 2014 Forester 2.5. From 1/1/2023 to today, it has been driven 40K miles and the total DIY part costs have been $2575. The below detail reflects a span of 109K to 149K miles.

2023: $870
Items: Two Oil Changes w/rotate, engine air filter, cabin air filter, f/r diff fluids, spark plugs, both rear wheel bearings w/axle nuts, spark plugs, front pads/rotors, rear pads/rotors, brake fluid exchange, f/r slide pin bushings, coolant service w/conditioner

2024: $219
Items: Three Oil Changes w/rotate, Brake Light Bulbs, Cabin Air Filter, CVT Drain and Refill

2025: $899
Items: Two Oil Changes w/rotate, engine air filter, crossover pipe o-rings, intake manifold gasket, PCV union w/both hoses, PCV valve w/hose, CVT thermostat, engine coolant thermostat, rear struts, coolant service w/conditioner, 12V Battery, radiator, upper and lower radiator hoses w/clamps, blower motor, cabin air filter

2026: $587
Items: Oil Change w/rotate, one headlight assembly (unable to polish satisfactorily), Washer Fluid Reservoir (due to failed sensor), one lug nut, L/F CV Axle Assembly, Roll Connector

 

[gfh77665]

No idea what I have spent but its been minimal.

Change oil at 5K and filter at 10K, always get oil with some kind of a deal.
Only rotate tires once every 25K.
Transmission service every 50K.
Air filter every 25K. (no dust here).
Other things only "as needed".

 

[tah8436]

Over the past 2 years, all DIY:

2003 Honda Odyssey w/ 317k - $350

3x oil changes, 3x ATF change, transmission filter, brake fluid, lug stud + nut, 2x engine air filter, cabin air filter, spark plugs, 1 ignition coil, power steering fluid, Fluid Film, wiper blades

2008 Ford Ranger w/ 189k - $320

3x oil changes, ATF/filter change, brake fluid, coolant, PSF, cylinder head temp sensor, fluid film, engine air filter, wiper blades

 

[JHZR2]

I have plenty of >100k mile vehicles. Even a decent number of >200k.

Even though most are Mercedes, the costs are minimal.

Let’s see.

Accord Hybrid, 110k. Never has needed a single thing, ever from off the dealer lot. Just oil and rubber. That said, in anticipation of a valve job and spark plug change, I spent $85 on plugs and a gasket. I did spend $22 on coolant for the radiator and inverter, and did an oil change.

Honda Odyssey, 129k. Did the timing belt, got a battery, and a sway bar link. Just bought valve cover gaskets to do valve adjustment. Has been over 100k for say three years. All the parts were less than $1000. So say $300/yr.

2008 MB ML320, >200k. Needed new springs $90, shocks and struts ($750 in parts iirc), belt ($40ish), and I did an ATF job for about $100. But that’s a 200k nearly 20yo vehicle.

My 1991 350SD I just incurred a $192 charge to find a leak and refill with refrigerant the proper way. I wasn’t finding the time to find and fix a leak. I did do brakes and suspension parts on it, but it has come to roughly $1000 over the last many years. So maybe amortizes to $200/yr?



All my other cars just get fluids and rubber. Around $13 for MB dual element bypass filters, then oil of choice. Coolant, etc.

All cars get brake fluid regardless of age.

Wear items are wear items. Change with quality and they can be good for the same interval as before.

 

[TmanP]

I have kept track of maintenance, but not costs beyond saving receipts for things that have lifetime warranties or things done at shops, so I estimated some below.

Above is my spreadsheet for the past four years/from 100k to 220k.
I would estimate DIY parts costs of:
---
Oil changes - 14@ $40 each in parts for Mobil 1 Extended Performance and an OEM filter ($560) - I've done them myself the past while but used a shop earlier on
Two sets of headlights and a couple smaller bulbs ($50)
Coolant for a DIY flush, 3 gallons ($50)
Other fluids (MAF sensor cleaner/throttle body cleaner/half a can of R134a) ($25), not counting washer fluid
Three engine and two cabin air filters ($75)
Two sets of OEM wiper refills ($40)
One battery ($140)
One engine mount ($40)
Four OEM spark plugs ($40)
=$1020 for DIY parts, or around $250 a year
---
It's also had a set of tires in that interval (and is about due for another) which was $400ish at Sam's, a belt and tensioner (about $400) at a shop, and a dealer BG ATF flush ($220), plus a wheel bearing/rear shocks at a shop ($1000ish), and a set of brakes all around at $600ish. Call it $2600 for those shop/tire/brake bills.

That comes out to $3750ish total for DIY parts, mechanic bills for a few repairs, brakes, tires/batteries/oil, and some preventative stuff like the ATF, in the span of four years and 100k-220k. Around $1000 a year.

The first 100k miles (I got it at 30k) were simpler, being just tires/filters and oil changes, plus one axle worth of brakes, and an ATF change.

It's also burned around 3750 gallons of gas from 100k-220k, so around $10,000 or a bit more, in fuel.

That was an interesting exercise!

 

[robbobster]

I don’t have the exact numbers in front of me, but I guarantee you it’s waaaaaaaaay less than 12 monthly car payments, let alone 60 (or more) payments.

 

[benjamming]

Here's our 2016 Highlander (bought March 2016) which has passed the 160k mile service (oil changes every 5k miles). I also do a simple drain & fill on fluids every 30k miles (ATF, coolant, diff, transfer [but switched transfer to every 60k miles after the 2nd change]). All DIY except tires. I also buy oil (e.g., Valvoline Modern Engine, Shell Rotella Gas & Truck, Total Quartz, Mobil 1 Truck and SUV) at clearance price from parts stores. Tag, insurance, & gas not included, of course. Approximately 15k miles/year.
2016: $84
2017: $429
2018: $1,160 which included 30k mile service (air & cabin filters along with fluids & 4 used oil analysis) & new tires ($694)
2019: $160
2020: $374 which included 60k miles service
2021: $1,124 which included new tires ($764)
2022: $572 which included 90k mile service
2023: $378
2024: $403 which included 120k mile service
2025: $1,488 which included 150k miles service & tires ($996)
2026: $63 but left hand powered liftgate actuator is planned which cost $249
Total: $6,484 including tires & 46 used oil analysis(!) so $0.04/mile

 

[benjamming]

Here's our 2001 Ranger (bought October 2010 with 78k miles) which has passed the 195k mile service (oil changes every 5k miles). I also do a simple drain & fill on coolant & replace air filter every 30k miles. ATF pan drop every ~30k miles. Diff service is every 50k miles. All DIY except tires. I also buy oil at clearance price from parts stores. Tag, insurance, & gas not included, of course.
2010: $301
2011: $562
2012: $630
2013: $1,172 including tires & alignment for $607
2014: $467 including battery for $107
2015: $25 but only drove it ~5k miles
2016: $99
2017: $76 but only drove it ~5k miles
2018: $361
2019: $397 includes battery for $118
2020: $845 including tires for $575
2021: $168
2022: $293
2023: $159
2024: $320
2025: $931 including tires for $638
2026: $52
Total: $6,858 including tires so $0.06/mile

 

[Zee09]

For those of us who are obsessive recordkeepers, what is your annual DIY spend on vehicle maintenance/repair for vehicles with >100K miles?

One of the vehicles I maintain (pro-bono) is a 2014 Forester 2.5. From 1/1/2023 to today, it has been driven 40K miles and the total DIY part costs have been $2575. The below detail reflects a span of 109K to 149K miles.

2023: $870
Items: Two Oil Changes w/rotate, engine air filter, cabin air filter, f/r diff fluids, spark plugs, both rear wheel bearings w/axle nuts, spark plugs, front pads/rotors, rear pads/rotors, brake fluid exchange, f/r slide pin bushings, coolant service w/conditioner

2024: $219
Items: Three Oil Changes w/rotate, Brake Light Bulbs, Cabin Air Filter, CVT Drain and Refill

2025: $899
Items: Two Oil Changes w/rotate, engine air filter, crossover pipe o-rings, intake manifold gasket, PCV union w/both hoses, PCV valve w/hose, CVT thermostat, engine coolant thermostat, rear struts, coolant service w/conditioner, 12V Battery, radiator, upper and lower radiator hoses w/clamps, blower motor, cabin air filter

2026: $587
Items: Oil Change w/rotate, one headlight assembly (unable to polish satisfactorily), Washer Fluid Reservoir (due to failed sensor), one lug nut, L/F CV Axle Assembly, Roll Connector

Reasonable prices

 

[ATex7239]

I have a tracker on my phone but I put all repairs and maintenance in it like shop repairs and new tires so it’s hard to track just DIY stuff.

Not surprisingly as looked at it the newer vehicles cost less annually in maintenance/repairs vs the older vehicles which need more in repairs.

 

[benjamming]

Here's our 2002 Accord (bought new July 2002 with 19 miles) which has 289k miles. I've changed the oil every 7500 miles with a wide variety of oils including many boutiques so prices may be elevated. I also do a simple drain & fill on ATF every oil change. Likewise for coolant but every 30k miles. Air & cabin filters replaced every 30k miles although for a while I was changing the air filter every 10k miles. I've performed a used oil analysis every oil & ATF change. All DIY except tires. Tag, insurance, & gas not included, of course. I did include fuel treatment costs where used to be a decent amount.
2002: $67
2003: $91
2004: $200 which included 30k mile service, started using AMSOIL API fuel treatment at every fill up
2005: $216 which included using Redline SI-1 fuel treatment at every fill up
2006: $791 which included tires for $432, used LCD FP60 fuel treatment at every fill up
2007: $1,453 which included 60k mile service & tires for $597 & battery for $113, used LCD FP3000 at every fill up
2008: $1,243 which included 90k mile service, used LCD FP3000 at every fill up, used LCD/RLI fuel treatment at every fill up
2009: $1,664 which included 120k mile service & $575 for tires, used LCD/RLI fuel treatment at every fill up
2010: $1,508 which included timing belt, water pump, & valve cover gaskets at 140k miles & 150k miles service & idle air control valve, used LCD/RLI fuel treatment at every fill up
2011: $1,042 which included $444 for tires, used LCD/RLI fuel treatment at every fill up
2012: $619 which included driver's Honda power window regulator & motor & 180k mile service, used shock dose LCD/RLI fuel treatment every 1k miles
2013: $981 which includes $473 for tires & $94 for Sears Diehard Silver battery
2014: $431 which included 210k mile service & replacing hood struts & key fob, used Gunk fuel treatment shock dose before every oil change from this point forward to current
2015: $598 which included passenger's Honda power window regulator & motor
2016: $483 which included EGR valve
2017: $209
2018: $676 which included timing belt, water pump, valve cover gaskets ($429) at 240k miles & NAPA Premium Legend battery for $127 & engine mount
2019: $751 which included $442 for tires & also front struts
2020: $125
2021: $121
2022: $572 which included EGR valve & front brakes & (1) ignition coil & 270k mile service
2023: $216
2024: $803 which included $398 for tires & $255 for driver's Honda power window regulator & motor
2025/2026: $1,163 which included TimeSert cylinder #2, valve cover gaskets, (4) ignition coils, (6) spark plugs, & battery
Total: $16,203 including tires & 70 used oil analysiss(!) so $0.056/mile

 

[JeffKeryk]

Deleted due to Excel formatting issue.

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

My 2019 Camry Hybrid is closing in on 140k miles. I have some rough estimates since I bought it in 2022.

2022: 64-78k miles, $875
- 2 oil changes, 4 tires, alignment, cabin air filter
2023: 78k - 96k miles, $100
- 2 oil changes, cabin air filter, engine air filter
2024: 96k - 116k miles, $210
- 3 oil changes, cabin air filter, spark plugs, transmission service
2025: 116k - 130k miles, $110
- 3 oil changes, cabin air filter, fuel pump (recall)
2026: 130k - 138k miles (so far), $90, expected $900ish.
- 2 oil changes, engine air filter, cabin air filter, new tires this summer and alignment.

Total expected maintenance/repair cost from 2022 through 2026: $2195.

It’s difficult to estimate average gas price over the years, but with Kroger rewards discount and whatnot I would guess around $3/gallon.

I estimate I’ll be at/around 150k miles by the end of 2026. Thus, I’ve have driven the car 86k miles. I average 50 mpg across all seasons/driving conditions.

Total cost of gas is ~$5160.

Insurance is ~$120/month = ~$7200

Total cost of ownership = $14555

Cost/mile = 16.9 cents/mile.

However, this doesn’t take into account depreciation and whatnot. It’s hard to tell exact depreciation. For the first two years I owned the car, I pretty much drove it without any depreciation occurring. I bought right when the market bottomed out and before it shot through the moon and into the next galaxy.

 

[QwikKota]

Have only done plugs and belt on the Colorado with 105k miles since the PO had an extensive service history on Carfax. Perhaps $50 aside from upgrades. Touch screen head unit, foglights and better headlights.

 

[nthach]

I don’t keep track of costs, but a now-“retired” car from Uber I can safely say we put in a bit over $5K over 140K. Two sets of tires at $1200/set, 40ish oil changes at $35 average for oil and filter, two spark plug replacements, lifetime alignment at Firestone and one wheel repair attempt. This car is now living a much easier life but I already replaced the rear brake pad($70ish from a online Lexus dealer), it needs control arms($200ish also from the same Lexus dealer). Oddly enough, the current set of tires on it were just over $1000 at Costco for Michelin CC2s.