Hyundai Maintenance Schedule & Costs
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Hyundai maintenance costs about $1,535–$1,769 a year across the 4 models we price (AAA's 2025 per-mile benchmarks for each model's vehicle category, 15,000 miles a year), against a $1,656 all-vehicle average. Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (HCM) covers 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Hyundai's published oil-change interval: 8,000 miles or 12 months.
Est. per year
$1,535–$1,769
vs $1,656 average
Brand rank
#7 of 25
cost, then complaints
Free maintenance
Yes
3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes
Models covered
4
4 priced
Hyundai maintenance schedule
Intervals and items from Hyundai's own maintenance guides and owner's manuals, linked row by row. Your engine and driving conditions can change them; the manual for your car wins.
| Interval | Service items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every 8,000 miles or 12 months |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| Every 16,000 miles or 24 months |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| Every 24,000 miles or 36 months |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| 48,000 miles or 48 months |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| Spark plugs |
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| 120,000 miles or 120 months (first) |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| Automatic transmission / IVT fluid |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
| AWD transfer case and rear differential |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) |
Oil-change interval
Normal service: 8,000 miles or 12 months
Severe or special conditions: 5,000 miles or 6 months (short trips, extensive idling, dusty/rough or salted roads, heavy traffic, mountain driving, towing, commercial use, frequent high speed or stop-and-go, or non-recommended oil)
Oil: API SN PLUS (or higher) full synthetic required for the normal interval. SAE 0W-20 for Palisade 3.5L, Tucson and Elantra 2.0L; SAE 0W-30 for Santa Fe 2.5T. With lower-grade oil, follow the severe schedule.
The Elantra manual also has an Oil Life Management System and says to use the severe schedule after 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Free / included maintenance
Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (HCM)
Term: 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Hyundai's pages list new 2020–2025 model years; 2026 terms are not stated on the pages opened.
Covers: For MY2025, four basic services within 3 years/36,000 miles, each with Hyundai-approved oil and filter change (not for EVs/FCEVs), tire rotation and a multi-point inspection. Air filters, cabin filter, wipers, brake pads, severe-schedule extras and 'inspect' items are excluded. It goes to the original owner only (spouse transfer allowed) at authorized Hyundai dealers, and each service must be within 1,000 miles or 1 month of the Owner's Manual interval.
Source: Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (hyundaiusa.com Assurance)
| What | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance scheduled services | NO COST (service.hyundaiusa.com wording) | Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (service.hyundaiusa.com) |
Hyundai maintenance cost by model
Per-year figures use AAA's 2025 benchmark for each model's vehicle category at 15,000 miles a year; they include repairs and tires. Models in the same category share a benchmark, so compare complaint rates too.
| Model | Est. per year | 5 years | Complaints / 1,000 sold | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra | $1,535 | $7,675 | 0.364 Average | No — low maintenance |
| Tucson | $1,746 | $8,730 | 0.966 Below average | Yes — higher than most |
| Santa Fe | $1,769 | $8,845 | 0.552 Average | Somewhat — above average |
| Palisade | $1,769 | $8,845 | — | Somewhat — above average |
Which Hyundai has the least problems?
NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold (2015–2022 U.S. sales), graded against every model in the same segment. Lower is better.
| Model | Segment | Complaints / 1,000 | Grade | Years flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra | sedans | 0.364 | Average | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020 |
| Santa FE | suvs | 0.552 | Average | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Tucson | suvs | 0.966 | Below average | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| Sonata | sedans | 0.97 | Worst | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Hyundai vs other brands
Hyundai ranks #7 of 25. Priced brands are ordered by the average of their models' estimates; brands that don't publish service prices follow, ordered by complaint rate.
| # | Brand | Est. per year | Median complaints / 1,000 | Included maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla | $1,511 | — | None confirmed |
| 2 | Toyota | $1,463–$1,769 | 0.182 (5 models) | ToyotaCare: 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, for model years 2026 and earlier |
| 3 | Mazda | $1,535–$1,746 | 0.317 (4 models) | None confirmed |
| 4 | Volkswagen | $1,535–$1,769 | 0.337 (2 models) | Carefree Maintenance (part of Carefree Coverage): 2 years — covers the 10,000- and 20,000-mile scheduled services, or scheduled services for two years, whichever occurs first |
| 5 | GMC | $1,704 | 0.867 (2 models) | GMC First Service Visit: First scheduled service visit for new GMC owners |
| 6 | Ram | $1,704 | 0.968 (1 model) | None confirmed |
| 7 | Hyundai | $1,535–$1,769 | 0.759 (4 models) | Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (HCM): 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| 8 | Subaru | $1,619–$1,769 | 0.405 (2 models) | None confirmed |
| 9 | Honda | $1,535–$1,787 | 0.497 (5 models) | Honda Maintenance Program: 1 year / 12,000 miles on 2026 models |
| 10 | Chevrolet | $1,704–$1,769 | 0.517 (3 models) | Chevrolet Complete Care — covered first maintenance visit: One visit within the first 12 months of ownership |
| 11 | Ford | $1,704–$1,769 | 0.672 (2 models) | None confirmed |
| 12 | Kia | $1,746–$1,769 | 0.756 (4 models) | None confirmed |
| 13 | Jeep | $1,746–$1,769 | 1.19 (4 models) | None confirmed |
| 14 | Nissan | $1,746–$1,787 | 0.355 (6 models) | Nissan Maintenance Care: Up to 3 oil changes within 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| 15 | Porsche | $1,824–$2,168 | — | Included First Service: First scheduled service at 1 year/10,000 miles on new internal-combustion Porsches |
| 16 | Lexus | Not priced | 0.202 (1 model) | LexusCare complimentary maintenance: First two scheduled services: 6 months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| 17 | Acura | Not priced | 0.874 (2 models) | Acura Maintenance Program: 1 year / 12,000 miles |
| 18 | Audi | Not priced | — | Audi Signature Care Scheduled Maintenance: Included with every new model-year 2026 Audi: scheduled services in the first 3 years/30,000 miles, whichever occurs first |
| 19 | BMW | Not priced | — | BMW Ultimate Care Scheduled Maintenance: 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever first, from original in-service date |
| 20 | Cadillac | Not priced | — | Cadillac First Maintenance Visit: First service visit at a participating dealer within the first year of vehicle delivery |
| 21 | Genesis | Not priced | — | Genesis Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance (with Service Valet): 3 years / 36,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| 22 | Land Rover | Not priced | — | None confirmed |
| 23 | Lincoln | Not priced | — | Lincoln complimentary scheduled maintenance: 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| 24 | Mercedes-Benz | Not priced | — | None confirmed |
| 25 | Volvo | Not priced | — | Volvo Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance: MY2026 gas mild-hybrid/plug-in hybrid: first two scheduled services |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hyundai expensive to maintain?
Hyundai maintenance costs about $1,535–$1,769 a year across the 4 models we price (AAA's 2025 per-mile benchmarks for each model's vehicle category, 15,000 miles a year), against a $1,656 all-vehicle average. Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (HCM) covers 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Hyundai's published oil-change interval: 8,000 miles or 12 months.
What is the cheapest Hyundai to maintain?
Of the 4 Hyundai models we cover, the Elantra has the lowest estimated maintenance cost: about $1,535 a year (AAA 2025 small sedan benchmark).
Which Hyundai has the least problems?
The Hyundai Elantra has the fewest problems of the 4 Hyundai models in our NHTSA study: 0.364 owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales), against Santa FE 0.552, Tucson 0.966, Sonata 0.97. Lower is better.
Is Hyundai a reliable brand?
On owner complaints, Hyundai is weaker than most: of the 4 Hyundai models in our sales-adjusted NHTSA study, 0 grade above average for its segment and 2 below. Fewest complaints: the Elantra (0.364 per 1,000 sold).
How often does a Hyundai need an oil change?
Hyundai's published oil-change interval: 8,000 miles or 12 months.
Does Hyundai include free maintenance?
Yes: Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (HCM), 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. For MY2025, four basic services within 3 years/36,000 miles, each with Hyundai-approved oil and filter change (not for EVs/FCEVs), tire rotation and a multi-point inspection.
Related
Sources and method
Schedules, oil intervals and included maintenance come from Hyundai's own documents. Dollar estimates are AAA category benchmarks (or, for Porsche, Porsche's plan prices), never invented per-model prices. Complaint rates: NHTSA complaints ÷ published U.S. sales (CarWhere analysis).
- Your Driving Costs 2025 (brochure: cost per mile by vehicle category) — AAA (maintenance cents per mile by category)
- Your Driving Costs 2025 fact sheet (methodology) — AAA (what the maintenance line includes)
- NHTSA vehicle owner complaints database — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (complaints per 1,000 sold is a CarWhere calculation)
- 2026 Hyundai Palisade Owner's Manual (full PDF, ownersmanual.hyundai.com) — Hyundai (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Hyundai Tucson Owner's Manual (full PDF) — Hyundai (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner's Manual (full PDF) — Hyundai (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Hyundai Elantra Owner's Manual (full PDF) — Hyundai (opened 2026-11-06)
- Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (hyundaiusa.com Assurance) — Hyundai (opened 2026-11-06)
- Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance (service.hyundaiusa.com) — Hyundai (opened 2026-11-06)