Bugatti has long been revered as a brand of hypercar beauties that boast incredibly expensive, technologically advanced dream-cars. Unattainable by the general public and sought after by celebrities and the uber-wealthy alike, Bugatti has maintained brand recognition among the most highly esteemed car makers in the world. However, like all other things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

It’s easy to get lost in the glitz and glamour of just about anything, and this highly intriguing car brand is no different. While there’s much to be desired, respected, and admired about these stunning and insanely powerful vehicles, there’s also quite a bit you’d be surprised to learn about, which may change your perception of this automaker.

The Bugatti ownership experience is not always as smooth and easy as you may think. Despite spending well over a million dollars to own one of these supercars, there seem to be some costly repairs, scary warning signs, and steep additional fees that are sure to taint the Bugatti experience. Of course, the folks at Bugatti are going to try to play down these inadequacies. Here are 15 glaring problems that Bugatti completely denies. Enjoy the article and like always be sure to share it with a friend. Let's get started!

15 Issues With Airbags

via CarScoops

Safety warnings – again. Bugatti ownership is becoming far less appealing with all these cited issues and mandatory repairs. Safety features are essential to any vehicle, and they play a critical role in the comfort and confidence we have in our drive. Peace of mind concerning safety would sure be a nice thing to have after spending well over $1 million for this car. Bugatti was under scrutiny for their faulty side airbags, which prompted a massive recall. Traces of a burn were reported during routine testing.

Improper assembly of the heat shield was reported, and complete removal of the seat is required for this repair. The airbags were manufactured by Key Safety Systems, and notice was mailed to each person who purchased the affected vehicles. Recalls were covered by Bugatti but still should never have been required.

14 Awkward Engine Sounds

via YouTube

This is a really big deal! Is there even a point to owning a Bugatti if you can’t hear the rumble of the engine? We would definitely hesitate before dropping over a million dollars on a car that doesn’t even sound aggressive upon pick-up. Sadly, the engine sounds on the Bugatti leave us with much to be desired.

Jalopnik reports the engine sound as being comparable to that of a “radiator.” That’s just not acceptable. Pulling up next to someone in your shiny new Bugatti should mean your engine has a refined rumble that lets everyone know who the boss of the road is. Unfortunately, this engine sound is more comparable to that of a diesel truck. This is a huge put-off and a significant drawback.

13 They Lose Money On The Veyron

via Bugatti

How is this even possible? With a price tag well over $1.7 million dollars for a base model, it’s hard to believe this car-maker can actually lose money on the sale of each car. We’re not even sure why they would continue to allow this to happen. According to Bernstein Research, $6.24 million dollars is lost on every sale of this vehicle. Understandably, there isn’t exactly a mass-marketing opportunity as this car is priced way out of the league for most buyers, however, it’s hard to understand why production would continue if this car is such a money-pit.

This may be one of the leading indicators as to the history of the financial woes this car-maker has experienced.

12 The Front Grill Is Cheaply Made

via TopSpeed

It’s difficult to imagine anything being “cheaply made” on a supercar like the Bugatti, but it has been widely reported that they cut quite a few corners on the manufacturing of the front grill of this car. Aluminum was probably not a great choice for the front grill – we could have told them this in advance and saved them the bad press.

Bird strikes were causing significant damage to the aluminum grill and shattering internal components of the car, which isn’t hard to do considering the sheer power of this vehicle. That said, the aluminum gradually evolved into the now-titanium grill which is claimed to be able to withstand the force of hitting a small animal at 250mph. We’ll take their word on this one.

11 Recalled For Structural Problems

via Motor1

This is disturbing. These cars are so exclusively designed for buyers with above-average budgets. That comes with the expectation of superior design, and sound mechanical and structural components. One would assume they’d pull all the stops to make this the most secure vehicle, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Bugatti was forced to recall 100 cars in 2016 alone, due to corrosion on underbody parts that could actually fall right off.

Motor Trend reports that this recall affected all 2006-2008 vehicles. This seems like a faulty design issue which could have been easily avoided. Corrosion on aluminum parts should be a predictable concept for these highly-trained manufacturers. This is strike two on the aluminum for this car brand!

10 Faulty Seats

via Bugatti

Well, that’s unsettling! We’d like to stay securely in place when being launched by a vehicle that packs in excess of 1,000 horsepower! This issue primarily affected the Chiron, which equates to roughly 47 total vehicles made between 2017 and 2018. Improperly welded brackets were the culprits in this case and were reported to change positions without notice.

This sudden and unexpected change of driving position can easily be the cause of a serious collision, so we’re happy to see the recall implemented so a solution can be applied. Improper welding should never be an issue when purchasing a vehicle with this kind of price tag. Once again, the oversight is a serious one which was absolutely avoidable.

9 Fuel Tank Woes

via TopsImages

Imagine checking your gas gauge and seeing that you have more than enough fuel to get you to your destination, only to find you are actually out of gas. You don’t have to imagine this scenario if you drive one of the 72 Bugatti Veyrons manufactured between 2006 – 2010, or a Grandsport from 2010-11, as this is the actual reality for those drivers.

A simple software update seems to reset this issue – oh – that and the new tank that is required. Road and Track report this fuel tank will ding your wallet to the tune of $42,000, so it was nice to see that the recall was covered by Bugatti.

8 Oil Change Costs Are Excessively Priced

via Motor Authority

An oil change is supposed to be one of the most routine services for our vehicles. It’s really difficult to imagine it to be a complicated, intricate experience that will cost you somewhere in the range of $21,000, but it does if you’re driving a Bugatti. Granted, the value of the most economical cars in the Bugatti fleet comes at a purchase price just shy of $1.5 million, so owners of this vehicle are unlikely to be bothered by the outrageous oil change price tag, but really – it’s still a lot of cash to drop.

A Bugatti oil change requires access to 16 different drain plugs which can only be reached after removing parts of the underbody. The rear-fender has to come off to re-fill the oil. It’s quite an experience – and a costly one, at that!

7 Bugatti Has A Long History Of Financial Strife

via MoneyControl

This is really difficult to wrap our minds around, as you’d think the makers of such high-priced vehicles would be financially stable as a result of these big-buck sales. However, such is not the case for Bugatti. They reached their peak in the 1930s but saw a tumultuous turn for the worst with a huge financial decline in the 1950s.

VW purchased (and saved) the Bugatti brand in 1998 after they had declared broke and were essentially facing total elimination. Prior to that take-over, there were at least three owners between the years of 1956-1995. Bugatti hasn’t always had solid ground to stand on, to say the least.

6 The Engine is Dangerous

via Motor1

There’s no denying the ferocious power of the engine in a Bugatti. It’s a fierce, sophisticated machine that packs a huge punch. Some may say – too much of it. With 10 radiators, over 1000 horsepower, and 4 turbo-chargers, this engine is superior to any other we’ve seen. That is until you realize the dangers that lie behind that fact.

Imagine a collision which pairs this incredible engine strength against the velocity of another vehicle! There’s so much underlying danger in that scenario. Back in 1939, a Bugatti engine was being tested in a factory, and when something went wrong, it blew up the entire factory. That is one powerfully dangerous engine!

5 Useless Top Speed

via Bugatti

One of the major reasons this car is so attractive to the elite buyers that flock to it, is the fact that it boasts a top speed of 267-280 mph. This is an incredible top speed that tickles car enthusiasts with excitement. That is until the realization sets in that you won’t be likely to attain this speed – ever!

Unless you’re driving the Autobahn or tracking this car, you really can’t experience or appreciate the speed it can attain. It’s incredibly disappointing when one of the biggest selling features of this car is in fact, one of the most useless ones. It’s not fun to see the power, yet not be able to experience it, so this reported top –speed is essentially a useless boasting feature. Of course, Bugatti won't admit to this truth.

4 Astronomical Annual Detailing Fees

via InsideHook

Owning a Bugatti involves the signing of many contracts – not just the standard sales contract from the company to the buyer. In addition to that standard exchange, the person buying any Bugatti model is actually signing a contract making promises to the seller as well! One of those promises they are contractually bound to is the annual detailing fee for their vehicle, which comes with a very high price tag.

The annual, mandatory cost for this service is $10,000. That’s correct - $10,000 each year, every single year! How dirty can these cars possibly be getting to warrant a detailing fee of this capacity? Nobody can seem to provide a clear answer on this one, nor can they explain the inclusions of this detailing service. The only thing made clear is that this annual fee is non-negotiable.

3 Disappointing Fuel Efficiency

via TopGear

We certainly don’t expect hypercars to be fuel-efficient, and of course, the faster we drive, the worse the fuel efficiency becomes. All of this aside, it seems the Bugatti stands out for all the wrong reasons here. With a surprisingly low 9 miles per gallon for a city –driver, and 14 miles per gallon for the average highway –driver, this car is an exceptional gas-guzzler.

Car Buzz cites the Bugatti as burning “more gas than any other vehicle.” We can appreciate that Bugatti owners have the money to fuel these cars, but it hardly seems enjoyable to have to keep topping up this expensive vehicle!

2 The Most Non-Exclusive of the “Exclusives”

via MotorAuthority

Initially impressive as being an “exclusive” vehicle to the average buyer, the Bugatti is hardly exclusive by definition! There are so many Bugatti models to choose from, and each was produced in the “hundreds”, which makes them abundantly available, despite not being widely affordable for the average consumer.

Over 400 Veyrons were produced in total. This means that you’re just “one of 400” when you drop over a million dollars for this one ride. That’s hardly exclusive and significantly taints the Bugatti experience, making us view it as a common-car among the elite, and not as a curated brand.

1 Pricey Tires

via TopSpeed

If you want a good rubber on any car, you’ll have to make peace with a high price tag for it. Tires don’t ever come cheap, but Bugatti tires are so significantly overvalued that it’s to the point of being ridiculous. The replacement cost for tires on a Bugatti ranges from $30,000 -$42,000.

That’s not all, the tires have to be replaced every 2500 miles as they are specifically designed to handle the car’s friction from the road. The tires on a Veyron are actually glued right onto the rims, which coincidentally means you have to re-purchase those every three tire changes. The estimated value of a change of rims and tires together is at the hefty rate of $120,000.

Sources: RoadShow, Bernstein Research, Motor Trend, Road & Track, CarBuzz, Jalopnik