The Lemon IndexNeeding to add oil between changes means the engine is burning or leaking it.
Fix soon. Check the oil level often and top it up. Ask the dealer about an oil consumption test and any extended coverage.
Worn or stuck piston rings. Then: worn valve stem seals; a clogged PCV valve.
Owners describe this in 11,356 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Chevrolet Equinox.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Toyota Camry | 259 | 7% |
| 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 256 | 19% |
| 2013 Chevrolet Equinox | 178 | 24% |
| 2002 Nissan Altima | 161 | 15% |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 161 | 15% |
| 2017 Hyundai Sonata | 156 | 18% |
| 2012 Chevrolet Equinox | 154 | 22% |
| 2016 Kia Optima | 141 | 18% |
| 2016 Hyundai Sonata | 135 | 15% |
| 2009 Toyota Camry | 133 | 9% |
| 2011 Chevrolet Equinox | 132 | 17% |
| 2018 Jeep Compass | 119 | 13% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2020 Kia Optima · 29% 2019 Hyundai Sonata · 28% 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe · 24% 2013 Chevrolet Equinox · 24% 2013 GMC Terrain · 23% 2012 Chevrolet Equinox · 22% 2018 Kia Optima · 22% 2021 Mazda CX-5 · 21%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of car burning oil
- Worn or stuck piston rings
- Worn valve stem seals
- A clogged PCV valve
- A turbocharger seal leak
- Oil leaks that look like burning
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if your car burning oil?
Fix soon. Check the oil level often and top it up. Ask the dealer about an oil consumption test and any extended coverage.
Get help right away if the oil light comes on; blue smoke comes from the exhaust.
Of the 11,356 complaints describing it, 0.5% mention a crash, 2% say the car was towed and 1% mention a fire.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (77%), engine and engine cooling (16%), power train (10%), fuel/propulsion system (6%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 79,360 miles.
Most reports by make: Hyundai (2,046), Kia (1,911), Chevrolet (1,283), Toyota (1,133), Honda (602).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine, exhaust & emissions, fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $1,200 to $6,000, typical $3,200, from 533 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P1326 P0420 P0300 P0303 P0017 P0014 P0304 P0302
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Oil leak Engine knocking or ticking Burning smell from car or engine Check engine light flashing Engine misfire Car shaking and check engine light on
Quick answers
What causes car burning oil?
Needing to add oil between changes means the engine is burning or leaking it. Common causes: worn or stuck piston rings; worn valve stem seals; a clogged PCV valve; a turbocharger seal leak; oil leaks that look like burning.
Is it safe to drive if your car burning oil?
Fix soon. Check the oil level often and top it up. Ask the dealer about an oil consumption test and any extended coverage.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 533 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,200 to $6,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup