What Is The Average Hyundai Maintenance Cost?

Hyundai claims to offer America’s best warranty for new cars. While the company does have impressive coverage terms, how much does Hyundai maintenance cost?

This article will break down the cost of maintenance service for Hyundai vehicles. We’ll look at the pricing for some common repairs and the recommended maintenance schedule from Hyundai. We’ll also talk about extra coverage since our warranty experts have reviewed and ranked the best extended car warranty companies in the industry.

Even the most reliable vehicles require regular maintenance. To get a better sense of Hyundai ownership costs, we used car repair estimation site RepairPal to see average repair and maintenance costs of popular Hyundai models.

RepairPal estimates that the average repair and maintenance cost across the car industry is $652 per year. This figure includes unscheduled repairs as well as scheduled maintenance.

Hyundai service schedule costs come in almost $200 below that with an average of $468 per year. You can also see from the chart above that models like the Elantra, Sonata, and Tucson all take less than $500 per year to maintain. Even the sporty Veloster appears to have low Hyundai maintenance costs.

Hyundai’s reliability also outperforms that of many of its competitors. The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠ ranked Hyundai seventh overall for dependability with 101 mechanical issues per 100 vehicles. The industry average for 2021 was 121 issues per 100 vehicles.

J.D. Power also ranked the Sonata as the second-most reliable midsize car and the Tucson as the third-most dependable small SUV. Hyundai’s sister companies, Kia and Genesis, also ranked in the top 10 for overall brand performance.

Even though Hyundai offers one of the longest-lasting factory warranties in the auto industry, routine maintenance isn’t always included in factory coverage. To keep your vehicle running smoothly, Hyundai recommends that maintenance be performed at regular service intervals.

The following are service items recommended by Hyundai:

In addition to its recommended service schedule, your Hyundai maintenance costs should account for replacing items like brakes and hoses as they wear out.

We also looked at RepairPal for the common issues seen among Hyundai models. The brand sees fewer mechanical issues on average that most, but here are some issues that might warrant a trip to the repair shop:

Drivers often enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having Hyundai maintenance costs factored into their budgets. Below are some ways to pay for necessary repairs far before you start facing problems on the road.

The Korean automaker offers vehicle owners a few alternatives to paying for Hyundai maintenance costs out of pocket. Hyundai includes some maintenance service for newer vehicles and offers a prepaid plan for older models.

Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance

All model year 2020 to 2022 vehicles purchased after Feb. 1, 2020, are eligible for Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance. This maintenance plan provides factory-scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Here’s what’s covered to lower your Hyundai service schedule costs:

• Engine oil and oil filter changes
• Multi-point inspections
• Tire rotations

This complimentary maintenance plan is not transferable to subsequent owners, except for between spouses. Standard wear and tear items like wiper blades and brake pads are also excluded from the service.

Hyundai Prepaid Maintenance Plan

Cars made before the 2020 model year are eligible for a Hyundai prepaid maintenance plan. This is similar to Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance, but has two coverage tiers. 

• Scheduled Maintenance Wrap: Extensive coverage for everything from air filters and engine coolant to spark plugs and other common items.

• Maintenance Wrap: Just covers oil changes, oil filter changes, and tire rotations.

Terms for the prepaid maintenance plan last up to 7 years/105,000 miles. Similar to other warranty and maintenance coverage, service is only available from the factory-trained technicians at Hyundai dealerships.

Hyundai owners can pay for a maintenance plan up front or add the cost to their vehicle financing. Coverage is also transferable to subsequent owners.

Hyundai Extended Warranty

Another route for lowering Hyundai maintenance costs is by purchasing a Hyundai extended warranty. These vehicle service contracts cover car repair costs once your factory warranty expires and often take care of expensive components crucial to your Hyundai’s performance.

Unlike the factory warranty, an extended warranty isn’t included in the price of a new Hyundai, so you’ll have to pay for it either up front or in monthly installments. You’re limited to purchasing the Hyundai extended warranty before your factory warranty expires.

Hyundai offers three extended warranty plans with varying levels of coverage:

• Platinum: Comprehensive coverage that includes the powertrain, suspension, steering, high-tech components, and more

• Gold: Backs the powertrain along with climate control, shocks, suspension, and the fuel and electrical systems

• Powertrain: Basic coverage for the engine, drive axle, and transmission

Hyundai’s extended warranty plans offer coverage for up to 10 years/100,000 miles, which coincides with the powertrain coverage included in your factory warranty. Other perks from the extended warranty that can lower your Hyundai maintenance costs include:

• Access to genuine Hyundai parts
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Towing services
• Rental car reimbursement
• Trip interruption coverage

Hyundai’s vehicle service contracts are also transferable if you decide to sell during the warranty term.

Third-Party Extended Warranty Providers

While buying an extended warranty from the Hyundai dealer may offer peace of mind, you may be able to lower your Hyundai maintenance costs with coverage from a third-party provider. Many reputable extended car warranty companies sell vehicle service contracts for vehicles of nearly any age or mileage, regardless of when the factory warranty expires.

Customers are usually able to get extensive coverage for lower costs compared to buying vehicle protection plans from manufacturers. You also get a wider network of repair facilities.

Keep in mind that extended warranties are geared toward covering costly auto repairs and are not necessarily for handling routine maintenance. Some independent providers may offer maintenance service as part of their contracts, but it’s not a widespread option.

If you’re concerned about Hyundai maintenance costs, an extended warranty is one way to remove anxieties and budget for Hyundai repairs. Our warranty experts identified Endurance and Protect My Car as solid choices for vehicle protection.

Endurance: Best Coverage

Endurance offers six service contract plans that range from factory warranty coverage down to basic powertrain protections. The EnduranceAdvantage™ plan includes comprehensive bumper-to-bumper coverage as well as routine maintenance for oil changes and brake pads.

Endurance is one of the more well-known independent warranty providers. It has an average rating of 4.4 out of a 5.0 stars on Trustpilot with over 3,200 reviews and is available in every state but California.

To learn more about this direct provider, read our Endurance warranty review.

Protect My Car: Best Maintenance Benefits

Owners looking for plans that cover Hyundai maintenance costs may want to consider Protect My Car. Its three vehicle service contracts all cover tire rotations and oil changes.

Protect My Car is an independent warranty provider that’s highly rated on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, with an A+ rating from the organization and 4.5 out of 5.0 stars from more than 600 customer reviews.

Read our Protect My Car review to see if this provider’s coverage works for you.