The engine is the heart and soul of anyone SUV. A problem engine can bankrupt us through maintenance and repairs. European luxury SUVs are no exception. Luxury car brands can sometimes disappoint when it comes to engine maintenance. For example, Audi and BMW have produced very reliable engines. On the other hand, some of its engines can disappoint. Engine problems such as deteriorating pipes and overheating are some of the issues that can plague some of these problematic SUVs. On the other hand, oil leaks are among the glaring problems of some Mercedes-Benz models that many people ignore.
Identifying the engine type can help us locate deeper problems. For example, Mercedes-Benz has built some reliable engines, while you might want to stay away from others. Websites like Car Complaints, Consumer Reports, and NHTSA can give us insight into the reliability of an SUV and even the problems associated with its engine. Let’s take a look at some of the European luxury SUVs with the most unreliable engines.
10 BMW X3 2013
For starters, the BMW N20 engine caused some concern for the company, with recalls as a result of timing chain issues. Let’s not forget that replacing a timing chain can generate additional costs. The 2013 BMW X3 with its N20 engine has created headaches for some owners. Car Complaints notes complaints for the 2013 BMW X3 due to a broken timing chain.
The 2013 BMW X3 received a 1/5 reliability rating from Consumer Reports. Trouble spots included the engine, which also received a score of 1/5. Kelley Blue Book notes a medium repair risk for the 2013 BMW X3. Engine diagnostics was one of the most common problems for the service.
9 2004 Porsche Cayenne
Some first-generation Porsche Cayenne models used years we wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot stick. At the same time, some Porsche engines will last a lifetime. However, some do not deserve a second look. The 2003-2006 4.5L turbo V8 engines came with pesky plastic cooling pipes. Over time, the pipes deteriorated.
Repair Pal suggests that the main complaints included engine stalling or not starting and coolant leaks. Nine memories were made. NHTSA recorded 100 complaints about the 2004 Porsche Cayenne. 17 of those complaints were about the engine, along with 12 complaints about engine cooling problems. Car Complaints cites the worst problems with the 2004 Porsche Cayenne as broken coolant lines, driveshaft problems and the engine not starting.
8 2008 BMW X5
Some BMW engines will annihilate anything, while others belong in a junkyard. The N62 is one of the “worst” engines. The N62 engine was used in select BMW models between 2001 and 2010. The N62 engine faced numerous reliability issues, including oil leaks. One of those with the N62 engine is the 2008 BMW X5. The 4.8-liter V8 delivers 350 horsepower.
The 2008 BMW X5 was recalled sixteen times. Three of those times were due to engine issues including PCV heater issues and engine cooling issues. NHTSA recorded 322 complaints for this model year. 121 of these complaints were for engine and engine cooling problems.
7 2002 Land Rover Discovery 2
The 1998 to 2007 Land Rover TD5 (Turbo Diesel) engine was not without problems. Head gasket problems are a problem. Overheating and coolant leaks are some of the symptoms. The Land Rover Defender TD5 is one of those used Land Rovers that nobody wants to be associated with.
The Land Rover Discovery 2 models suffered their own problems, including head gasket problems and cracked blocks. The 2002 Land Rover Discovery 2 was recalled four times, due to issues including the possibility of the pump joint fluid igniting. NHTSA records 51 complaints. 20 of these complaints related to the engine and engine cooling.
6 Audi Q5 2014
Audi has excited us with some reliable engines. However, some are not so desirable. TecFlow suggests that problems with the Audi TFSI engine include excessive oil consumption and timing chain problems, among other things. The 2014 Audi offers the 2.0-liter TFSI engine.
Consumer Reports gives a score of 3/5 for reliability, with 1/5 for major engine problems. Car Complaints cites engine problems as the main complaint. The website suggests the main problems are excessive oil consumption, engine dying or not starting, and timing chain problems. Five withdrawals were made. Two related to problems with the coolant pump. NHTSA recorded 74 complaints. A third of these complaints concern the engine.
5 2011 BMW X6
The 2011 BMW X6 is one of those BMWs that can cost more to maintain than it does to buy. In fact, annual repair costs for a 2011 BMW X6 come to around $1205, according to Repair Pal. Some expensive cars are worth the maintenance cost. However, you might want to take a second look at some of the 2011 BMW X6 engine problems.
The 2011 BMW X6 was recalled thirteen times. One of those times was due to engine overheating. Again it was due to the possibility of the engine stalling. Car Complaints suggests that the severity rating of the engine problems is severe. Engine overheating was a major complaint, along with oil consumption.
4 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 is one of those Mercedes-Benz models you should never buy used. Mercedes-Benz launched the ML350 in 2002. In the infancy of its production, this SUV had its own teething problems. However, the 2006 model year was one of the worst.
Car Complaints cites engine problems as the main complaint. Repair Pal cites the main complaints as camshaft problems, electrical problems and even engine performance among the main complaints. The 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class was recalled three times. One of these times was due to the engine stopping.
3 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450
The M273 engine is one of Mercedes-Benz’s engines to walk away from. Timing chain problems causing engine problems and oil leaks are some of the issues. A class action lawsuit was even filed for M272 and M273 engines due to faulty gears causing problems.
An example is the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450. Engine stalling, oil consumption, and electrical problems are some of the reported problems. Repair Pal cites internal component failure resulting in jerky shifts, oil leaks and engine performance due to crankshaft problems as some of the top complaints. The 2007 GL-Class was recalled three times. One of these times was due to the engine stopping.
2 Audi Q7 2017
The 2017 Audi Q7 is powered by a 252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. Otherwise, you could choose a 333-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. However, the 2017 Audi Q7 is one of those Audis you should stay away from.
Consumer Reports rates the reliability of the 2017 Audi Q7 at 1/5. The reliability of its engine is 1/5. Car Complaints suggests that some of the worst problems for the 2017 Audi Q7 include “catastrophic engine failure,” along with engine stalling. This website gives it a severity score of really awful.
1 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA came with the 208-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class was recalled four times. One of these times was due to the possibility of the engine stalling due to engine damage. Car Complaints suggests that the worst problems include the car dying while driving, the inability to start the engine and transmission failure.
Like their American counterparts, we’ve seen some very reliable European luxury SUVs. However, some luxury SUVs can disappoint. One of the key areas to check is any potential engine problems. These issues can break the bank when it comes to maintenance and repair. European luxury SUVs with unreliable engines are best avoided.
