A new survey has found that once a car clocks up between 96,000km and 110,000km, the chances of a mechanical failure go up to 50 per cent. That’s the finding of a report by Warranty Direct, which looked at 50,000 cars.
Most car warranties runs out after about three years, a period when many cars approach the 100,000km mark. Major problems with axles and suspension often occur in this period of a car’s life, particularly if a vehicle has been driven on poor quality roads.
The survey found that the average repair cost was 500 euros (around £420), with axles and suspension problems accounting for nearly 25 per cent of problems. 19.6 per cent of issues were related to electrical systems. Indeed, as cars have developed, electrical systems have played an ever-greater role in their functioning, and so the chances of one of them going wrong has risen accordingly.
And despite the fact that modern cars are more reliable than ever, once a vehicle approaches the 100,000km mark, mechanical components have been through a lot.
As the creators of the survey suggest, it’s no wonder that car warranties run out after three years – the time when many cars are approaching the 100,000km mark. It’s also a reminder of why cars depreciate in value so much after clocking up this level of mileage.
However, staying off poor roads, keeping your car well maintained and taking out a high quality vehicle recovery breakdown insurance policy – can help give you peace of mind if you do own an older car.
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