Cars are breaking down at record rates, and here?s why

[super jumbe]

Have you had to call for roadside service lately? You?d think with all the advances and tech available that newer cars, SUVs, and trucks would be more dependable than ever and roadside service calls diminishing, but the opposite is true. Last year the American Automobile Association responded to more calls for help than ever before, as reported in Fortune.

AAA dispatched roadside service to assist 32 million drivers in 2015, a record for the company. Why are the numbers up? A mixture of new design, new tech, and drivers ignoring dashboard warnings. And AAA has a handle on the most frequent reasons drivers call for help.

?Vehicles today are advanced more than ever, yet are still vulnerable to breakdowns,? said Cliff Ruud, AAA?s managing director of automotive solutions. ?Sleek, low profile tires are highly susceptible to damage, electronic keyless ignitions can zap battery life, and despite advanced warning systems, more than half a million drivers ran out of gas last year.?

Another roadside service call pattern reported by AAA is the higher frequency of towing. One in five calls for late model vehicles results in towing to a dealer or other service facility. The complexity of newer vehicles more commonly rules out roadside repairs, so towing is more frequent.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/cars-breaking-down-record-rates-122442503.html

[lush29]

From my point of view and my experience as i see every day. Cars are made little bit more vulnerabille as in past but the biggest problem i think are the owners and the drivers. Back in past you knew you have to service and check your car for your own safety,for the health of the car, and to avoid more expenses. But today they think if they go in an garage and you tell them they need this and the other they are under the impression you want to rob there money. Electronic ignition are braking same as the mechanical ignition on past as any part on your car/body/house,etc. You use it advincillay will brake as is normal. The think with the gas.... less for petrol more for drinks 😂😂😉

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[GastonJ]

If they made cars that didn't break down and need spare parts, where would the after sales market be? Mechanics with no job, makers unable to sell you vastly expensive parts etc. Nah they'll always break down for those two reasons alone. I'm surprised VW haven't written to some software to make it happen when passing one of their dealerships. GPS, passing VW dealership and bang it dies 10 yeards away, so they have to send in a recovery truck etc. Though why show a picture of a puncture?

[super jumbe]

Forget breaking down at record rates, those latest cars are built cheap, they had loads of problems with the electronics and I have seen cars less than 7 years old in scrap yard most with electronics failed, we need 10 tears extensions warrantees like we have on washing machine and freezers…..

[Meat-Head]

If garages didnt fit parts from "euro car parts" they would not break down so often

[gmb45]

If garages didnt fit parts from "euro car parts" they would not break down so often

tru dat, but genuine parts prob 3x the cost, so to costly fur the older car.

[Meat-Head]

Gaston your idea of cars breaking down at main dealers
great, the *HOT* bird works in dealer parts, but would mean buying a french car!

[gttuning]

They brake and they will brake more.no quality in any of them.
Every manufacturer wants to be cheaper then others so cost must go down if cost go's down quality has to go down as well.
Yesterday had a call out .passat 2014 egr problem 65k on the clock...
Other thing had a X5 2008 electronic handbrake unit went on the back axle . bought one in bmw for a customer 950 euro for new actuatorafter 2months start making funny noise so i call bmw and ask why new unit start making problems...he said bring back will be replaced under warranty, they give problems..
So quality is gone.


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[nara]

Cars are breaking down at record rates, and here?s why

I thought it was because meaty was servicing them.


That bit about low-profile tyres is true though, I'll never fit the ~~~~ers again!

[super jumbe]

Though why show a picture of a puncture?

Should have known by now, all new cars do not have spare tyres, a small puncture can last up to a week before any one can notice, but if your tyre busts you call the AA for a recovery truck?.

[DOUGALMCD]

Decent cars cost a lot to service but if they are looked after they usually last you. As for garages it's best to find one with proper mechanics or engineer and not just fitters. ie we fitted this and we fitted that and your car still don't work because we aint got a clue. Parts on the other hand are a minefield but it's best to buy quality as they do last longer especially if you do a lot of miles. That said half the electronics in cars are crap and there is really no need for them. Most people sell or swap their cars now leaving a pile of junk for the next person buying it as most of them know nothing about cars apart from the make and model.

[jakesman]

down here in south afraca most cars on the road is running brake downs , the most problems we have is there is not stealerships around , people buy cars , but have to travel far to the nearest dealers and the cars end up getting "fixed" on the pavement at some dude armed with a test light and a piece of wire to start bridging wires and the screw drivers looks like old chisels , actualy saw one dude strugeling with his citroen c3 , parts was to many $$ and they fitted a vw golf manifold with a carburator , man this dudes can make a plan

[ifred]

Anyone see the movie about the EV1 car "who killed the electric car" It talks about them stealing the cars back from the owners because they were too good! http://documentaryheaven.com/who-kil...-electric-car/

[rideon]

I always advise my customers to buy the most beautiful/pretty/cool/nice/red/.. car they can afford..


When it breaks down-sooner or later-..sooner than later.. they can always say is "beautiful/pretty/cool/nice/red/" so is worth repairing...



So...think the Italian and French cars are beautiful/pretty....

[GastonJ]

Gaston your idea of cars breaking down at main dealers
great, the *HOT* bird works in dealer parts, but would mean buying a french car!

You'll just have to buy the hot bird meaty, then you can check her pats ou any time you want Probably cheaper than you constantly sabotaging cars so they break down and you have to order spares to get her to deliver. The car owners would be happy as well. What's the breakdown ratio near you 100% of all cars every month?