No matter what your ride is, the goal is the same: avoid those costly mechanic bills.

Nobody wants to be stuck with a huge repair bill from the auto shop. Some car manufacturers aren’t intending their cars to be driven for many years beyond the factory warranty, and some are built to last a lifetime. For the most part, if a car is maintained properly, it'll last as long as the owner needs it to. But there are some makes that are simply built and engineered to last longer than others. Because of the lower maintenance cost, a lot of people tend to gravitate towards American or Asian car brands if their goal is to keep the vehicle for more than a few years. If it’s a lease that the owner is looking for, then American or Asian will work, but that also brings in European makes. European car makes tend to have a significantly higher cost of ownership, which makes them less attractive for ownership beyond the factory warranty.

Things that can keep cars on the road longer include changing the oil regularly, rotating the tires, and changing the air filter. The reason this is more difficult on European makes is that accessing those parts can be difficult and time-consuming, which adds the labor cost to the manufacturer and, in turn, adds to the total bill the owner receives at the end. Based on owner accounts and the data recorded from various credible surveys, here are 13 cars that are likely to break down, and 12 that won’t let you down.

25 Will Break Down: Acura TLX

The Acura TLX is a sedan that has a lot going for it on paper: a powerful V6 engine, all-wheel drive, and a 9-speed transmission that’s supposed to deliver quick and smooth shifts. But we all know it’s one thing to talk the talk, and it’s another to walk the walk. According to owner reports, the biggest issue with this vehicle is the transmission. The 9-speed jerks between gears, hesitates in cold weather, and doesn’t allow the car to move forward when the gas is pressed. Potential owners: beware.

24 Will Break Down: Cadillac Escalade

The Escalade has been featured in many movies and TV shows as a luxury vehicle. Nevertheless, it does come with a few caveats. Number one is exterior accessories. According to Edmunds.com, many owners have reported door handles easily breaking off of the car, which seems to be a strange problem to have for a luxury vehicle. The second most common issue is the engine dying while driving, which could end up being a serious problem in the right circumstances! My advice: explore other family haulers.

23 Will Break Down: Chrysler 200

Dodge/Chrysler has never been known for reliable transmissions, most infamously, in the Ram Trucks. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t spilled over into other vehicles. According to Car and Driver, complete transmission failures have plagued the 200 since the all-new model came out in 2015. Owners have reported everything from rough shifts to jerkiness to not shifting properly to a “whining” noise while accelerating. Rule of thumb: always be wary of the first year of a new vehicle generation.

22 Will Break Down: Dodge Charger

The new body-styled Dodge Charger has encountered a variety of issues, from alternator fires to excessive battery death to speed-sensor problems to the car not simply starting. With a Chrysler product, transmission issues are almost bound to happen, and this is no exception. According to Motor Trend, owners have most commonly reported the transmission being stuck in gear. The charger has the potential to be a great “driver's” car, but you might need a few strokes of luck during ownership.

21 Will Break Down: Dodge Grand Caravan

Another Dodge product... Is there a pattern starting? Not intentionally. This one hasn’t gotten the transmission bug nearly as bad. The largest issue with the Grand Caravan comes from the engine.

According to Kelly Blue Book, owners have reported that the engine has simply died while driving.

It also has accelerated when the gas wasn’t being pressed. Now, that would be a scary issue to have. Another major problem that’s been reported is that the A/C will only blow from one side of the vehicle—not good when there are hot or cold people in the car.

20 Will Break Down: Dodge Ram 2500

The pattern continues—again, not intentionally. By this current model year in Ram, a lot of the transmission issues have been worked out. But not all of them. The transmission is known for having issues, but the largest issue would be the electrical components, like lights not working, locks not working, and the infotainment screen freezing. These are known for the cracked housing in their transmission, which is a costly repair. I would save myself the time and check out other options.

19 Will Break Down: Ford Focus

Ford has made the Focus for decades now, and they've seen their fair share of mechanical problems.

According to Kelly Blue Book, the largest issue with them is the power steering completely failing to engage, leaving the driver sometimes unable to operate the vehicle.

Another issue with the Focus has been its transmission. Since Ford hasn’t put many dual-clutch transmissions in production cars, this makes sense. The most common problem is shudder and vibration when taking off. Some owners have even experienced a DOA (dead-on-arrival) transmission before.

18 Will Break Down: Ford Fiesta

The Focus shares similar issues with the Fiesta. The newest model Fiesta shares the same transmission with the Focus, and they both come with the same issues. Hesitation and stuttering are common for the transmission, according to Edmunds.com. The Fiesta does come with its own engine, but many owners have noted that the accelerator has failed them in a variety of situations. The build quality of some smaller cars, including this one, simply doesn’t feel like they were built with high-quality parts.

17 Will Break Down: GMC Yukon XL

The Yukon XL has been one of the most common family haulers for a number of years. That doesn’t mean it comes without its faults, the number one fault being the HVAC not working. This is a huge problem, considering who this vehicle is targeted at: families. Many owners have also reported that their taillights don't work even after swapping them out with good ones. Transmission issues have been a problem as well, most commonly, the vehicle switching into four-wheel drive mode without warning the driver.

16 Will Break Down: Jeep Cherokee

Jeeps, in general, haven’t been known for their rock-solid reliability, and the new model of the Cherokee didn’t change that.

According to Car and Driver, Jeep is the first company to incorporate a 9-speed transmission in a consumer vehicle. More gears mean better transmission? Wrong.

More gears mean more problems. According to Jeepproblems, one owner was quoted as saying that driving with this transmission is “a great way to get whiplash, without the inconvenience of having to get into an accident.” Bottom line: watch out for a 9-speed transmission from Jeep.

15 Will Break Down: Jeep Grand Cherokee

And we’re going to continue the trend with transmission problems. The Grand Cherokee has a plethora of issues with the transmission, from hesitation and jerkiness, all the way to complete failure, where the vehicle won’t shift gears anymore. Many previous owners say they've replaced their Grand Cherokee with another crossover vehicle because the repairs would’ve totalled the vehicle. Other issues that have happened years down the road are the radio not working, the navigation not working, and all of the gauges in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel going out.

14 Will Break Down: Lincoln MKC

The MKC is a relatively new vehicle, and with that comes its own caveats. The manufacturer doesn’t have a history with the vehicle and can’t work out any kinks in the build. Lucky for Lincoln, most of the problems with the MKC aren’t mechanical but will cost the driver serious time and money. According to Cars.com, the satellite radio antenna will need to be replaced because it drops connection frequently. Many owners have also reported that the navigation system causes the entire infotainment system to freeze even after the car is turned off.

13 Will Break Down: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class is a vehicle that's expensive to maintain, and owning one outside of a warranty is a risky move. For those that have, their most common problem has been the HVAC blower going out, which can cost up to $800 to replace. Also common with these, according to Repairpal, is the variable valve-timing system having issues and being expected to go out within the first few years of ownership. The crankshaft is also known to go bad due to a failed crankshaft position sensor.

Now, here are 12 cars that, according to survey and research data, won't let you down.

12 Buy: Toyota Prius C

The Toyota Prius C, or “Compact,” is the smaller version of the well-known Prius. These vehicles get great gas mileage, are easy to maintain, and most importantly, take care of their drivers. A lot of the cars on this list will be from the same manufacturers, and there’s a reason for that: Toyotas have been synonymous with reliability for many decades now. They’re not cars enthusiasts will gawk over, but they can absolutely count on them to get them where they need to go—every time.

11 Buy: Kia Optima

The Kia Optima has quietly become one of the best cars in its class. Kia used to make cheap cars that people only bought if they needed something quick without any bells and whistles.

More recently, Kia has really stepped up its game when it comes to quality and reliability.

And with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, how can you go wrong? If an issue does come up, which they rarely do, you’ll have the safety net of a great warranty. A large part of the reliability is the simple-yet-proven engineering methods on the car.

10 Buy: Ford Expedition

I think you’ll notice a pattern for these vehicles. While all of them are nicely equipped, they're mechanically simple. And the Ford Expedition is no exception. Part of where the reliability issues come in is when the manufacturer tries to do too many fancy tricks with the vehicles. Even though the Expedition has some fancy features and has a forced-induction engine, it’s available with 2-wheel drive, and the engine has been proven in many other vehicles. This helps keep the cost of ownership down, which is more appealing to those who don’t want a new lease every few years.

9 Buy: Hyundai Azera

The Hyundai Azera is probably the rarest car on the list, but they're extremely reliable. On top of the great reliability, they offer owners a similar driving experience to European luxury cars. Kelly Blue Book has given the Azera a rating of 9 out of 10 on their reliability scale as well. This car is also of great value, with its competition being European luxury sedans offering similar features—but at a much lower price.

8 Buy: Toyota Camry

Toyota has been churning out the Camry for decades now. There’s a reason this is the bestselling mid-size car in America.

According to JD Power, many owners don’t even have a hiccup with the car until they’re long past the 100,000-mile mark.

With minimal maintenance, these cars are known to see well over 200,000 miles. They make great cars for those who want something practical, reliable, and with some flare. The 2018 model now has an optional 301-horsepower V6 that's sure to bring over some new clientele to the brand.

7 Buy: Lexus CT 200h

The CT 200h is one of Lexus’s oldest models. But this comes back to the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Toyota/Lexus has kept this car the same, other than styling and interior aspects, for many years now. The 134-horsepower engine is underpowered, which means it’s less likely to break down because it’s never working as hard as it could. Also, Toyota has been known for reliability and longevity in their cars long before this was made. It’s definitely not one of the most popular cars on the road, but it'll get you where you need to go—no questions asked.

6 Buy: Lexus RX Cars

There’s a reason Lexus appears on this list more than once. Toyota has backed the Lexus nameplate with the same reliability people know and love, to no surprise. The hybrid powertrain gives it great gas mileage, the interior has high-end materials, it offers a smooth ride, and it seats 5 passengers comfortably. What’s not to love? The styling. Many owners say they love everything about the car except the styling. It’s on the aggressive side and won’t necessarily appeal to those to like to fly under the radar.