Latest news with #reliability
The Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
EVs ‘more likely to break down and leave drivers stranded than petrol or diesel cars,' damning report reveals
ELECTRIC vehicles are reported to be more likely to breakdown on the road than cars with petrol or diesel engines, according to research. A survey of nearly 30,000 drivers looked into their experiences with breakdowns over the past two years. 3 3 The Reliability Survey conducted by What Car? in association with MotorEasy looked at a comparison of petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars in terms of whether they were likely to break down, as well as be fixed or towed. Overall, 11 per cent of respondents of the survey had suffered a fault in the last 24 months that made it undriveable. A similar figure of 10.7 per cent of petrol car owners reported a break down in this time, which is a significantly lower rate than batter car owners. Hybrid and diesel cars were also at a lower rate, at 14.1 per cent and 15.4 per cent respectively. Results of the survey come just days after the boss of AA reported attending a higher proportion of electric car breakdowns. In 40.6 per cent of these break downs, the EVs had to be towed from the roadside to a garage. However, only 29.6 per cent per cent of petrol cars required this. CEO of the breakdown service provider, Jakob Pfaudler, added EVs are prone to not only punctures, flat batteries, but also jammed charging cables and technical glitches. He claimed EV breakdowns are more common despite the "idea "common misconception" that they are more reliable than internal combustion engine cars due to having fewer moving parts. On top of that, the report found there was only a one in four chance EV drivers would have their cars permanently fixed by a breakdown company after being stranded on the road. This is in comparison to two in five petrol car owners who were able to get back on the road after calling out roadside assistance. The Sun's Motors Editor Rob Gill takes the new electric Renault 5 for a spin As a result, EVs were the most commonly transported vehicles taken to garages for repairs, as they cannot be towed. They are unable to be towed due rotation of their driven wheels risking of damage to their e-motors. Edmund King, president of AA, also suggested EV drivers are more likely to be confused and flustered by warning lights in their cars, leading them to call for roadside assistance. Whereas petrol car drivers often drive to a garage when being given warning alerts. King estimated, however, that only 86 per cent of traditional cars could be dealt with at the roadside compared to nine in ten battery powered cars which tend to just need a "simple reboot". An additional positive for EV drivers from the survey data suggested their breakdown-related faults could typically be resolved for free, more than any other fuel type. 89 per cent of EV faults could be resolved at zero-cost for the driver, according to the survey, with only three per cent paying more than £1,500 for fixes. Hybrid cars did even better on this front, with 91% being fixed for free, and only two per cent paying over £1,500. However, 76 per cent of petrol car owners reported having their vehicle repaired at no cost following breakdown, and only two-thirds of diesel car drivers.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
EVs ‘most likely type of car to break down'
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most likely type of car to break down, a survey of tens of thousands of motorists has found. A poll of just under 30,000 car owners found that just over one in 10, or 10.9 per cent, had broken down within the last two years. Of those who gave their car's fuel type, about one in six (16.8 per cent) said the car they broke down in was an EV, What Car? magazine's latest Reliability Survey found. This was a higher breakdown rate than for petrol, diesel or hybrid cars whose owners responded to the survey. Other data gathered by the magazine revealed that owners of diesel-engined cars are most likely to report a fault, with 31 per cent of its readers doing so last year, although that figure has declined from 50 per cent in 2022. The findings come after Jakob Pfaudler, the AA's chief executive, warned of a 'common misconception that electric vehicles break down less frequently than petrol and diesel vehicles'. Mr Pfaudler said in April: 'Currently, at least, that is not the case. The breakdown rate is, in fact, slightly higher for electric vehicles than for internal combustion-engine vehicles.' What Car?'s findings on reliability were based on about 17,300 drivers who gave their vehicles' fuel type, out of the 30,000 surveyed. Some 15.4 per cent of diesel drivers, 14.1 per cent of hybrid (petrol-electric) car owners and 10.7 per cent of petrol-powered motorists reported that they had been left stranded in their cars at some point since 2022. In total, around 7,700 petrol drivers responded, along with 5,100 diesel drivers, just under 2,900 hybrid owners and 1,600 EV motorists. In its survey, What Car? also asked drivers how often their broken-down cars had to be towed away, as opposed to receiving roadside repairs that got them running again. About two in five EVs had to be taken elsewhere to be fixed, the magazine found, compared with just 30pc of petrol cars. However, electric car advocates suggested that the survey's findings lacked rigour. Ben Nelmes, the chief executive of the consultancy New Automotive, said: 'Perhaps a better datapoint for the UK would be the MOT failure rate – after all, when a vehicle fails its MOT (and isn't remedied at the centre) then there's likely to be something fairly wrong with it. 'Battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) have a lower failure rate than petrol and diesel vehicles of comparable ages, except BEV and petrol vehicles that are three-years-old, where the failure rate is essentially the same,' he added. Ginny Buckley, the chief executive of Electrifying, an electric car buying advice website, said: 'The What Car? survey flies in the face of data from companies like Start Rescue, who last year reported that EVs are 59 per cent less likely to break down than their petrol or diesel counterparts,' she said. 'But when they do, the issues are often relatively minor – things like tyres, wheels, or the 12-volt battery – much the same as traditional cars. Expensive mechanical failures, which are common in older internal combustion engine vehicles, are rare thanks to the EV's simpler engineering and fewer moving parts.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Electric vehicles 'break down more often than petrol, diesel and hybrid cars', says What Car? and the AA
Electric vehicles break down and leave drivers stranded at the roadside more often than their petrol and diesel engine equivalents, owners reveal. Of the 30,000 drivers who completed What Car's latest Reliability Survey over the past two years, one in ten (10.9 per cent) said their motor had suffered a fault that rendered it undrivable. However, when reviewing the feedback from motorists by vehicle fuel type, the poll suggested that drivers of EVs are more likely to need to call for breakdown assistance. Of the battery car drivers who filled in the survey, 16.8 per cent said their car had broken down in the last 24 months. That compares to just 10.7 per cent of petrol car owners. Hybrids (14.1 per cent) and diesels (15.4 per cent) too had a statistically lower rate of breakdowns, the report said. And it also went on to show that when electric cars do suffer issues, they are less likely to be repaired at the roadside by a breakdown patrols, meaning drivers cannot continue on their journeys. The report comes in the wake of AA bosses claiming that EV breakdowns are more common despite a general misconception that they are more reliable because they have fewer moving parts than a traditional car. Electric vehicles break down and leave drivers stranded at the roadside more often than their petrol and diesel engine equivalents, What Car? and the AA have both stated this week EV drivers reported that only in one in four instances where their battery cars were stranded at the roadside did the breakdown company manage to permanently fix the issue so they could get back on the route. In contrast, two in five petrol car owners said a patrol had them back on the road again after being called out. Unsurprisingly, EVs were the fuel type most commonly transported (because they can't be towed due to the risk of damage to the e-motors if the driven wheels are rotated) to garages for repairs. In 40.6 per cent of EV breakdowns, the cars had to be recovered from the roadside, whereas only 29.6 per cent of petrol cars were towed to nearby garages or the owner's home. BREAKDOWNS BY FUEL TYPE Fuel type Broken down Permanently fixed Temporarily fix Towed Not towed Petrol 10.7% 40.1% 22.7% 29.6% 7.7% Diesel 15.4% 30.4% 26.0% 36.5% 7.1% Hybrid 14.1% 33.8% 30.1% 32.3% 3.8% Electric 16.8% 25.0% 20.8% 40.6% 13.5% Source: WhatCar? Reliability Survey based on feedback from almost 30k UK car owners The report comes just days after bosses at the AA reported that it is attending a higher share of electric car breakdowns that petrols and diesels. Jakob Pfaudler, CEO at the breakdown service provider, said EVs are prone not only to punctures and flat batteries like all cars with internal combustion engines, but also to a host of problems relating specifically to electric models, including jammed charging cables and technical glitches. Speaking to The Telegraph, he said it was a 'common misconception' that battery cars are less susceptible to faults than because they have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine equivalents, claiming the breakdown rate is actually 'slightly higher' for EVs. Edmund King, president of the motoring organisation, added that EV drivers are more likely to be confused and flustered by warning lights in zero-emission cars and pull off the road to call for assistance. In stark contrast, he said petrol car drivers are typically more likely to drive to the nearest garage when confronted with warning signals, such as an icon suggesting low oil pressure. However, Mr King estimated that nine in ten breakdowns involving EVs could be dealt with at the roadside versus 86 per cent for traditional cars, with the battery models often needing a 'simple reboot'. Though this is in conflict to what drivers told What Car?. Drivers of EVs did have some positives to report relating to breakdowns... Jakob Pfaudler, the AA's CEO, said EVs are prone to a host of problems relating specifically to battery models, including jammed charging cables and technical glitches EVs are the fuel type most commonly transported to garages for repairs after a breakdown. They can't be towed due to the risk of damage to the e-motors if the driven wheels are rotated They told the automotive title that breakdown-related faults were typically resolved for free - more so than any other fuel type, in fact. According to the survey data, 89 per cent of faulty EVs are rectified at no cost to the driver, and only 3 per cent had to pay more than £1,500 to get their battery cars back on the road after a breakdown. That's almost as impressive as the record for hybrid cars: 91 per cent of these were fixed for free, and only 2 per cent of owners reported having to pay over £1,500 to have issues resolved. While petrol cars suffer fewer breakdowns than EVs and hybrids, they are more likely to land owners with repair bills: only 76 per cent of petrol cars were fixed for free, owners told What Car?. Diesels are the least likely to be fixed gratis, though: only two third of drivers had the cost of their car repairs covered. Who is providing the best breakdown service? What Car? also looked at the level of service provided by nine major breakdown recovery companies, and by independent recovery services. Respondents who had used a breakdown provider in the last two years were asked how long they had to wait for help to arrive and how good the service they received was. Patrols that arrived in an hour or less and got cars going again gained the highest marks; those that took more than two hours to arrive and didn't fix the car or recover it for repair were given the lowest marks. BEST RATED BREAKDOWN ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS Rank Provider Time rating Quality rating Overall rating 1 Britannia Rescue 5 4 5 2 Independents* 4 5 4 3 AA 3 4 4 4 Start Rescue 4 3 4 5 Emergency Assist 3 4 4 6 Green Flag 3 4 4 7 GEM Motoring Assist 2 5 4 8 Autoaid 4 3 3 9 RAC 2 4 3 10 Allianz 2 3 2 Source: WhatCar? Reliability Survey based on feedback from almost 30k UK car owners (Rating out of 5 stars) *Independents category includes responses from a number of independent recovery services and garages Overall, the best breakdown provider was Britannia Rescue. Its patrols attended three-quarters of callouts in less than an hour, and they enabled 53 percent of car owners to continue their journeys. At the bottom of the satisfaction chart was Allianz, which offers cover directly to car manufacturers, rather than policies that consumers can independently subscribe to. While it was marginally quicker to respond to callouts than the RAC, it was the worst for performing permanent repairs to stricken cars.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is a 20-year-old car too old to buy? Why age isn't as important as you might think
Buying older used car models can save drivers big bucks. The question is, how old is too old for a used vehicle? Is there a definitive age cutoff when it comes to buying a reliable used car model? There are several factors that should be considered when searching for an older used model. Surprisingly, age isn't as important as mileage, make/model, and overall reliability when it comes to a car's lifespan. Age can play a role in vehicle lifespan, but it isn't always the best metric to gauge the potential longevity of a vehicle. In fact, some older well-maintained vehicles could be nearly as reliable as newer model years based on design. A 20-year-old car that has traveled for the average annual miles driven per year (14,489 miles according to Kelley Blue Book) is likely well past its prime. On the other hand, vehicles that have accumulated less miles per year than the annual average and are well-maintained could still last for years before major mechanical issues. Debilitating rust or major mechanical failures are cited as signs a vehicle is "too old to drive", according to a piece regarding vehicle age by Capital One. That said, there isn't a specific vehicle age where any car becomes so antiquated that it's rendered useless. Age may not be the best indicator of where a vehicle currently is in its lifespan, but mileage (on original parts) can help car buyers understand how many miles and years a vehicle has left on average. A study by an automotive research site, compiled a list of the 30 vehicles most likely to last for up to 250,000 miles. The study analyzed odometer reading data for over 402 million vehicles. The average vehicle only has an 8.6% chance of reaching 250,000 miles or higher, according to iSeeCars. Thus, 250K miles is a fair mileage number to set as the end of a vehicle's lifespan (optimistically). Realistically, most vehicles will only last up to 200,000 miles (or less) before encountering major mechanical issues. Several Toyota models topped iSeeCars' list of vehicles most likely to reach 250,000 miles or more. Vehicles like the Toyota Tundra pickup truck and Toyota Sequoia SUV have over a 36% chance of reaching the mileage milestone, which is a much higher percentage than that of the average vehicle (8.6%). Models like the Toyota 4Runner SUV and Toyota Tacoma pickup truck have over a 26% chance of reaching 250K miles or more. Vehicle age has no correlation with mileage because the annual miles a driver accumulates can vary. Assuming that a car is driven for Kelley Blue Book's estimate of an average 14,489 miles a year and the average vehicle lasts for around 200,000 miles before major mechanical issues, a conservative estimate for a car's lifespan is 13-14 years. You can get a more specific estimate for your vehicle by dividing 200,000 total miles by your average annual mileage. Vehicles with above-average reliability such as the Toyota models that topped iSeeCars' list can have an above-average lifespan. The numbers used to calculate a car's lifespan are based on miles driven, not years owned. So, a 20-year-old car that has accumulated under 200,000 miles could last for years, depending on its mileage and reliability. Based on the iSeeCars study, at least six different vehicles have over a 25% chance of reaching 250K miles or more, increasing their lifespan estimates significantly. Toyota Sequoia Toyota Tundra Toyota 4Runner Toyota Tacoma Toyota Highlander Hybrid No car is too old to buy, but a car's mileage can be too high to be reliable without significant repair costs. Parts such as engines and transmissions experience extreme wear and tear as cars accumulate 200K miles. Luckily for drivers, some cars (like Toyota models) age better than others in terms of degradation. If a car has racked up so many miles that it needs a new engine or transmission, it may not be worth buying due to the cost of parts and repairs. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is a 20-year-old car too old to buy? How to estimate a car's lifespan
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Five used convertible cars to buy in 2025 for under £25k with robust reliability
With temperatures tipped to soar beyond 30 degrees across Britain this week, a cheap second-hand convertible will be a tempting proposition. But before you start perusing the car ads for a cabriolet on a budget to enjoy the summer rays and wind-in-the-hair driving, it's important to know which are the most reliable to run to protect you from excessive repair bills. Extended warranty data supplied by Warranty Solutions Group (WSG) covering a sample of 3,000 convertible cars reveals how many customers have claimed on their policies in the last 12 months (July 2024-June 2025). The top five with the lowest claim rate are listed, which is based only on popular models for which 100 owners have taken out extended warranty cover. To help you make your decision, we'll tell you how much you will need to pay for a 10-year-old example with less than 60,000 miles on the clock. And we also reveal which convertible model you might want to avoid, with more than a quarter of owners with warranties claiming on their policies due to high repair bills. 5. Audi TT Despite huge success, particularly when the first-generation model arrived in the late nineties, the Audi TT is no more. The German marque pulled the plug on production in November 2023, ending 25 years of its availability. Those on the hunt for a decent 10-year-old model can pick up a third (and final) generation TT Roadster for around £14,000 with fewer than 60,000 miles on the clock. This gets you top down driving from cabriolet with a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine sending power to the front wheels via a manual six-speed transmission. All-wheel-drive variants with the S-Tronic auto 'gox will cost slightly more and those wanting more frugality - but a worse sound - can get their hands on a 2.0-litre TDI diesel variant, too. Just one in seven owners with an extended warranty in the last 12 months have claimed on their policies, with the average cost of repairs ringing in at £505. 4. Mini Convertible The only four-seat convertible to make the list of five most reliable top-down cars is the Mini Buyers searching for a second-hand compact convertible packed with retro styling and an affordable price tag should look no further than Mini's Convertible. You can pick up a decent 10-year-old example for around £6,000 today with the brand's tried-and-tested 1.6-litre petrol engine under the bonnet. It's also the only model in our top five that has seating for four - though adults in the back can expect a cramped experience to say the least. On average, one in eight extended warranty policyholders claimed for vehicle repairs to their Mini Convertible in the last 12 months - and that's based on vehicle dating back to 2004. With an average payout of £535, the Mini Convertible is one of the more expensive cabrios to fix when something goes go wrong. 3. Porsche Boxster While for a long time it was considered the poor man's 911, the Boxster has cultivated a devoted following of fans, which is partly due to its reliability and relatively low running costs The most expensive option in our list is the Porsche Boxster. With incredibly strong residual values, even a decade-old version will set used buyers back around £25,000 for a standard 2.7-litre versions of the mid-engined 981-generation roadster. If you want to upgrade to a 3.2-litre 'S' or 'GTS', prices are even steeper. While for a long time it was considered the poor man's 911, the Boxster has cultivated its own devoted following of fans, which is why depreciation is relatively slow and used prices remain stubbornly high. Strong reliability - and relatively low running costs compared to other Porsche products - is another reason for its popularity. Just over one in ten extended warranty policyholders made a claim in the last 12 months. And the claim amount on average was less than for the Mini Convertible. 2. BMW Z4 BMW's Z generation o two-seat roadsters, including the Z3, haven't always had the strongest dependability track records. But the German giant - and its engineers - have tackled this issue in recent years and the Z4 has become relatively robust. If you're hunting for a 10-year-old example, the E89 edition (which went out of production in 2016) offers good value over its G29 replacement that remains in showrooms today. You can get your hands on a sub-60,000-mile example with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and automatic gearbox for around £12,000 today. Sending power to the rear wheels, featuring two seats and a hard-top roof, it's every bit the performance sports car. Just one in 11 owners with extended warranties have claimed on their Z4 repair costs in the last year. While that's an impressively low volume, the average claim amount is higher than any other motor listed, at just over £750. 1. Mazda MX-5 Taking the top spot is the Mazda MX-5, long hailed as the gold standard for affordable sports cars. Its near-legendary dependability stems from Mazda's dedication to engineering simplicity and mechanical purity that has benefitted its popular roadster for the last 35 years. With its rear-wheel-drive layout, wonderfully engaging manual gearbox and lightweight nippiness, the MX-5 has always been a thoroughly brilliant sports car to drive that's refreshingly mechanically uncomplicated. The current fourth-generation car launched in 2015, so a ten-year-old example is pretty much bang up to date. Buyers have the choice of two Skyactiv-G petrol engines (1.5 and 2.0 litres). With a claim rate of just 7.7 per cent across all MX-5 models, dependability in roadster for doesn't get better than this. For the one in 13 owners who have claimed, the average payout was £456. 'The Mazda MX-5 remains a standout example – and its long-standing reputation for durability continues to be validated by surveys from What Car?, J.D. Power, and Consumer Reports in America,' explains Martin Binnee, operations director at WSG. 'It consistently outperforms expectations, reinforcing the value of engineering simplicity and mechanical integrity in an era of increasing complexity.' Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet With almost three in ten owners of Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolets turning to their extended warranties to cover the cost of repairs, WSG ranks it the least reliable of all popular convertible models The Mercedes E-Class is the convertible car with the highest volume of claims made by owners. Almost three in ten drivers of the luxury four-seat cabriolet claimed on their polices in the last 12 months, which is why WSG ranked it lowest for reliability among the popular convertibles. 'While it's an undeniably luxurious cruiser, its high maintenance costs and relatively frequent faults make it a less attractive proposition for used buyers prioritising longevity and hassle-free ownership,' the provider said.
