Muscle Car Repair Costs Can Be the Stuff of Nightmares...
Muscle cars are some of the coolest motors to own. They look amazing and offer thrilling performances on the road. But certain models can be a bit of a nightmare to deal with — especially when it comes to repair costs. Try not to worry, though. We've got you! Yes, we'll be reeling off a list of problematic vehicles to watch out for right here, folks.
1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire
The 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire is a gorgeous muscle car. But boy, it isn't without its problems. The turbocharged V8 engine is a huge cause for concern. It often overheats, leading to costly repair bills down the line. The compressor shaft can cause headaches as well. All in all, that's bad news for your wallet!
1968 AMC Javelin
We'll be blunt here — the 1968 AMC Javelin is an absolute beauty. And at 310 horsepower, its V8 engine doesn't lack bite. Having said that, this muscle car is very tricky to fix now. If something goes wrong with the T10 four-speed transmission, you could spend a fortune finding a replacement.
1973 Pontiac Grand Am
A muscle car that blends luxury with performance, the 1973 Pontiac Grand Am is certainly eye-catching. But is it worth buying today? That's debatable. Nose cone deterioration is a significant problem here, among other things. So simply put, this vintage motor will cost a pretty penny to fix up.
1968 AMC AMX
Visually, the 1968 AMC AMX is a stunner. Who wouldn't want to own this bad boy? Things aren't so pretty under the hood, though. While no doubt powerful, the car's V8 engine has issues with oil flow. And fixing that doesn't come cheap! The body panels are prone to bad rust as well.
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
There's much to like about the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. It looks great and boasts a beefy V8 engine capable of producing 385 horsepower. But it isn't perfect. Not by a long shot! Both the drum brakes and the timing gear set are known to be problematic. Good luck fixing them without breaking the bank, folks.
2006 Ford Mustang
Is the 2006 Ford Mustang more trouble than it's worth? It looks that way! This muscle car has so many issues. The paint often peels, bubbling around parts of the hood. The aluminum panels are to blame for that. Meanwhile, the battery and alternator are prone to failure, too. Cheap fixes? Nope.
2006 Dodge Charger
The 2006 Dodge Charger is undoubtedly beautiful. But make no mistake, folks — it's a muscle car with huge internal issues. The valve seats inside the V8 Hemi can go badly wrong, and fixing them isn't an option. So yes, you'd have to pay for a full engine replacement. The transmission can also be quite iffy. Yikes!
2006 Pontiac GTO
Performance isn't a problem for the 2006 Pontiac GTO. Its LS2 V8 can produce close to 400 horsepower on the road. But that can't mask this muscle car's issues. Its water pumps are known to leak, causing the engine to overheat. The spark plugs aren't reliable, either. It can make for a costly fix.
1980 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo
The 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo still has the power to turn heads. It's an awesome-looking muscle car! Does it have problems, though? Unfortunately. The suspension can cause headaches, while the 4.9-liter V8 turbo engine is prone to overheating. Your bank balance could take a real hit fixing it.
2015 Ford Mustang
The 2015 Ford Mustang wasn't without its problems upon its release. The fuel tank was iffy, the fuel pressure sensors were faulty, and the service brake had issues. It needed a bunch of recalls as a result! Now, though? The car still has areas of concern. Oil cooler failure is a big one, and that's not a cheap fix.
2016 Chevrolet Camaro
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is a fast, powerful beast. Its 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine deserves to be praised! Yet the car's internal issues can't be ignored. Slow cranking, battery drain, dashboard glitches, and power loss are just some of the problems it throws up. Your wallet will hate it.
2014 Dodge Challenger
We don't blame anyone for gawking at the 2014 Dodge Challenger. It's stunning! Perfect, though? No way. This muscle car was recalled three times after its release due to a faulty alternator. And today, it continues to have issues. Engine misfires are common, causing costly damage under the hood.
2017 Dodge Charger
To call the 2017 Dodge Charger powerful feels like a gross understatement. With a 6.2-liter Supercharged Hellcat V8 under the hood, it can produce a whopping 707 horsepower on the road. Wow! It's not the cheapest muscle car to look after, though. The average maintenance cost for a Charger model over the course of 10 years comes to $7,809.
2004 Pontiac GTO
The 2004 Pontiac GTO won't leave you wanting in the performance department. It's a very powerful motor! But maintaining it comes at a cost today. Due to Pontiac's closure in 2009, sourcing replacement parts for repairs can be incredibly tricky. You must be prepared to spend here, folks.
2005 Ford Mustang
The 2005 Ford Mustang is no slow coach. It can reach 60 mph in just over five seconds. But the car's issues could hit your wallet hard today. Interior leaks are known to be a problem, while peeling paint jobs will cause frustration as well.
2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4
A muscle car with bite, the 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4 does have some plus points. But the issues are tough to look past — especially if you're on a budget. The transmission, engine, axle, and clutch are all known to exhibit problems, while the fuel system is iffy, too.
2004 Cadillac CTS-V
The 2004 Cadillac CTS-V is a beautiful powerhouse. Its V8 engine is something else! But the car's problems can't be overlooked. The rear differential is prone to cracking, the hydraulic motor mounts leak, the wiring can be faulty, and the harmonic balancer doesn't always work. You'll need deep pockets to fix it all.
1981 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo
The 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo is a special motor in a lot of ways. But unfortunately, it can be a real nightmare to fix now. The engine's known to overheat because the car doesn't have an intercooler. And the cylinder block can crack if you add a performance upgrade to it. Ouch!
2017 Chevrolet Camaro
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro a great-looking muscle car? You bet. But all the good looks in the world can't make up for this motor's issues. The biggest concern is the power steering. It can stop working without warning on the road. Fixing that can certainly cost a pretty penny.
1970 Dodge Charger
A muscle car icon, the 1970 Dodge Charger is still highly coveted today. Owning one could be a huge challenge, though. This motor is very expensive to repair and maintain now, as specialized parts are becoming more scarce. The body panels are especially rare, folks.
SN95 Ford Mustang
While the SN95 Ford Mustang is an eye-catching motor, it's also got a laundry-list of issues. The spark plugs don't stay in place, the manual transmission sticks, and the camshaft sensor magnets are known to loosen. That doesn't make for great reading! And neither will the repair bill.
1970 Buick GSX
The 1970 Buick GSX is a hard car to ignore. It demands your attention! It'll also demand a decent chunk of money to repair today. Replacement parts aren't easy to come by now, and usually carry a high price-tag. Could you justify spending a fortune here?
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
With a V8 under the hood, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is a great muscle car to own. But the same can't be said for the V6 engine option. Those motors have significant, pricey problems. They include engine failure, premature wear on the timing chain, and misfiring. Oof.
2011 Dodge Charger R/T
How's this for a nightmare scenario? The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T had issues with both its 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engine options. But only the former was fixed via a recall. So those troublesome V8s are still out there — and repair costs will have to come from your own pocket if they go wrong.
2012 Dodge Challenger
The 2012 Dodge Challenger certainly looks the part. But is it a tough muscle car to look after? It seems that way. This motor's known for having a dodgy timing chain, which poses a threat to the interference engine. It can cause catastrophic damage.
1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible
The 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible is a rare breed indeed. Only 12 of these beauties were ever built. But the 426 Hemi that powered the car was also retired that year. So repairing or replacing the engine today is extremely tough — and expensive!
1972 Chevrolet Vega
Fixing up a 1972 Chevrolet Vega doesn't come cheap, folks. The body's prone to rust, the engine overheats, and the valve stem seals can literally disintegrate, causing oil to seep into the combustion chamber. In case you couldn't tell, that's not good!
1969 Shelby GT500
The 1969 Shelby GT500 is a gorgeous muscle car. It's hard to take your eyes off it! Maintaining it isn't easy, though. Due to a scarcity of original parts, you'd have to pay top dollar to fix the engine in particular.
Jensen Interceptor III Convertible
No more than 267 Jensen Interceptor III Convertibles were ever built. They're exceedingly rare today, folks. And unfortunately, repairs don't come cheap. The chassis is known to rust, while replacement parts can be very hard to locate. What a bummer!
De Tomaso Longchamp
Equipped with a powerful 5.8-liter V8 engine, the De Tomaso Longchamp is a great muscle car to drive. But its build quality is a big problem — it can barely stay together now! Paying for those repairs isn't fun.
1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427
The 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427 is a stone cold classic. Few other muscle cars from the past can match its amazing looks! Having said that, this is a costly motor to maintain today. The big-block engine isn't the easiest thing to fix.
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Is the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge an iconic figure in the muscle car world? Absolutely. But you might not enjoy owning one today. Why's that? Well, due to the rarity of certain parts, you'd have to pay big money to fix a mechanical problem.
1991 Ford Thunderbird
"Frustrating" is probably the best word used to describe the 1991 Ford Thunderbird. This car has a bunch of issues that'll put a strain on your wallet. They include blown head gaskets, failing ignition control modules, faulty fuel pump relays, and iffy wiring.
1971 Ford Torino GT
The 1971 Ford Torino GT ticks so many boxes as a muscle car. Yet it's tough to recommend owning one today. Sourcing parts for this vehicle can be far from straightforward, as they're usually quite pricey. And that's bad news if you need to make repairs.
Through: Bull-Doser