Turbocharger problems: which cars have them

Short answer: among vehicles with US sales figures, the Buick Encore has the most complaints about turbo problems per 10,000 sold, followed by the Chevrolet Trax and the Chevrolet Malibu. Across all 2,553 federal complaints about it, owners reported a median of about 60,500 miles.

Federal complaints

2,553

Typical mileage

60,500 mi

Typical repair

$1,520–$2,820

What it is

A turbocharger uses exhaust gas to spin a compressor that forces more air into the engine. Turbos run very hot and fast, so oil supply, seals, wastegates and the intercooler plumbing are common trouble spots.

What owners notice

Loss of power or boost
Whistling or whining that gets louder with speed
Blue or gray exhaust smoke
Check-engine light for underboost or overboost

Vehicles with the most turbo problems

Complaints about this problem per 10,000 sold, for each vehicle’s model years old enough to judge. Each vehicle’s years start at the first model year with a cluster of these complaints, so a vehicle that got the part later isn’t diluted by years without it. Only vehicles with at least 25 such complaints are ranked (12 vehicles).

1. Buick Encore 1.2 per 10k sold

69 complaints, 2013–2022 models · typically around 75,450 mi · most in 2013–2014 and 2017 · estimate costs
2. Chevrolet Trax 1.2 per 10k sold

74 complaints, 2015–2022 models · typically around 46,000 mi · most in 2016–2017 and 2019 · estimate costs
3. Chevrolet Malibu 0.54 per 10k sold

51 complaints, 2016–2022 models · typically around 76,500 mi · most in 2018–2019 and 2022 · estimate costs
4. Honda Accord 0.5 per 10k sold

56 complaints, 2018–2022 models · typically around 115,790 mi · most in 2018–2019 and 2021 · estimate costs
5. Kia Optima 0.43 per 10k sold

52 complaints, 2011–2021 models · typically around 89,000 mi · most in 2012–2013 · estimate costs
6. Ford Escape 0.42 per 10k sold

104 complaints, 2013–2022 models · typically around 90,000 mi · most in 2013, 2017 and 2020 · estimate costs
7. Chevrolet Equinox 0.4 per 10k sold

53 complaints, 2018–2022 models · typically around 18,200 mi · most in 2018–2020 · estimate costs
8. Volkswagen Jetta 0.36 per 10k sold

60 complaints, 2009–2022 models · typically around 57,000 mi · most in 2009–2010 and 2019 · estimate costs
9. Hyundai Sonata 0.28 per 10k sold

51 complaints, 2011–2022 models · typically around 70,000 mi · most in 2011–2012 and 2015 · estimate costs
10. Ford Explorer 0.26 per 10k sold

64 complaints, 2012–2022 models · typically around 85,000 mi · most in 2012 and 2016–2017 · estimate costs
11. Ford F150 0.26 per 10k sold

239 complaints, 2011–2022 models · typically around 27,155 mi · most in 2011–2013 · estimate costs
12. Honda CR-V 0.17 per 10k sold

36 complaints, 2017–2022 models · typically around 76,000 mi · most in 2017–2018 · estimate costs

Common questions

Which cars have the most turbo problems?

Among vehicles with US sales figures, the most complaints about turbo problems per 10,000 sold come from the Buick Encore (1.2), the Chevrolet Trax (1.2) and the Chevrolet Malibu (0.54). Rates cover model years old enough to judge.

At what mileage do turbo problems usually show up?

Across 2,553 federal complaints, the median mileage owners reported was about 60,500 miles. It varies a lot by vehicle; see the table.

How much does it cost to fix turbo problems?

Typically $1,520–$2,820 at a national-average independent shop, from book labor hours and parts pricing. Your state's labor rate changes this; the cost estimator on each vehicle page uses it.