When you are a vehicle owner, routine maintenance and service is not just a *good idea, it is imperative to keep your vehicle (car, truck, SUV) safe, running strong, and highway ready not only for yourself and your family, but for other motorists that you share the road with as well, you don’t want car problems on the highway. No matter, how much maintenance, we do, however, there will be times, when car issues creep up. Nearly each and every car will show warning signs if you are paying attention. There are sensor lights, funny sounds, noises you haven’t heard before. A good rule of thumb is – Don’t ignore the warning signs. If there is an issue under the hood, or with a tire, or if the fluid is low, or a hose is loose… turning the radio dial up and hoping it will go away won’t work. The issue will only get worse, until what was potentially a rather small issue has now ballooned into what could be a major expense. To help you reduce some possibility for an on-the-road or roadside breakdown and/or high-priced repairs, we have listed as a whole some of the more general common car problems and issues and car complaints that will tend to come up over and over again, no matter what vehicle you may have, new or old, or what year model it may be. These are common car issues across the board for ALL vehicles.
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
Warning Lights
Believe it or not, one of the top car complaints or car troubles are with the warning light systems in cars that are supposed to*warn you about the fact you might have an issue. However, it is true, one of the single most common car complaint issues is the engine check light for US cars, trucks as well as owners of SUV’s. The above mentioned are the sensor lights that illuminate when your car’s ECU or (Engine Control Unit) senses a fault or error code that is prompted by an alarm with a sensor light. There are actually over 200 conceivable combination of warning codes, so our best advice is to have a qualified vehicle technician do an inspection on your sensors and warning light systems to determine what the problem with the car might be. The mechanic will not only know the source or the proper code error for the problem with the car, but he will know the proper repairs. It will save a lot of time and money in the long run to have this quick inspection done.
Engine Sputter
Engines are at their best when there is a proper mix of fuel and air within the chamber of the combustion. To bring this process to completion, there is a succession of ignition and gas system elements that have to join forces in tandem. Even though several moving parts to enable an engine to work accurately – an engine spluttering and failing/misfire are a leading problem. To help reduce the misfiring and spluttering issues, take proactive measures to change out your ignition and fuel system parts as is suggested by the maker/manufacturer that is listed – most likely in your vehicle handbook. Yes, it actually really is a good idea to keep those vehicle car guides in the glove box of your vehicle where you can find it and actually refer to it when you need useful information as you will probably need to know from time to time, especially when there are mechanical problems, or common issues or simple car problems that might be easily explained in the guide.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
A proficiently running engine, burns up fuel at a low rate that helps increase your car’s fuel budget. Nonetheless, there are various parts of your fuel system such as the fuel and air filters, mass airflow sensors, as well as those 02 sensors that will eventually become dirty and just stop working or break. Should this happen before you replace them it will just increase your vehicle’s fuel usage even more than usual, which can cause a problem with your car you do not want. So, again, we urge you to be diligent about your scheduled and routine service and tune-ups as it will often provide a solution *before there is a car complaint or a car issue.
Dead Battery
The lion’s share, or most (we say, *most) vehicle batteries will generally last up to approximately 3 years or around that 50,000-mile mark. If you have a battery that has no juice, so to speak, it is probably because you have low amps – which will, of course, naturally diminish your car battery's ability to sustain a spark or a charge. Also, if there might be a damaged or broken alternator or battery temperature sensor or any other charging components, it could expedite the issue. It is always best to practice due diligence with your batteries as well. Replace them as you should when that mileage on them reaches 50K or the 3 years, whichever comes first – regardless if the battery shows any signs of any obvious wear and tear or any other sort of damage. Be watchful to replace your battery, as a dead battery at the wrong time and place is an automobile problem you do not want.
Low or Flat Tires
It is true that most tires do go flat or get a slow leak after you strike an object with your vehicle or it’s been punctured somehow. It is also very possible that the tires are low or flat from just modest, every day back and forth wear – being the principal source of the damage. You can greatly expand the lifecycle of your tires by a continual and consistent tire rotation schedule that is suggested by your car’s manufacturer (remember that car handbook in the glove box, again?). Generally, it is a good rule of thumb to rotate tires on any vehicle approximately every 5K mile turnover. However, some good advice is to just always have them rotated when you have the oil changed, that way you won’t forget and you can, as they say, kill two birds, with one stone and save some serious car problems on the road by practicing your car maintenance due diligence.
Grinding -Squeaky Brakes
We know you don’t like to think about it, but, parts on our vehicles were not meant to last forever, and like every piece and part on your vehicle that moves, unfortunately the braking system was designed to wear away over a defined amount of time predetermined by the manufacturer design. In other words, they designed them with a delegated *default that after so long they would just wear down (on purpose). The brake system on your vehicle is vital to your safety, therefore, if you detect any display of any symptoms or issues, such as squealing, or screeching or perhaps a soft to the touch brake pedal—get to a brake technician just as soon as you can (or sooner). This really is the one time; you do not want to wait around and see if it just gets better or the noise goes away. Faulty brakes are extremely dangerous, as you know. While trivial issues can indeed cause squeaky and squealy noises, once you hear that unmistakable grinding noise, it’s a sure sign that you need to hit the brakes as it were at your nearest professional mechanic shop and get new brakes, for everyone’s safety. Because of all the things that can wrong with a car, issues with sketchy brakes that may not work is a car trouble you don’t need or want.
Alternator Failure
Ah, the alternator. That little piece on your car or truck that once it starts, keeps *ALL the systems (electrical) running. The alternator is also in control of giving your battery its charge keeping it in tip top condition. If the alternator fails or breaks it does eventually cause your car battery to prematurely wear out and you will notice that your battery will begin to start having issues because it won’t be getting its little jolt from the alternator. Another friendly reminder, to check that service manual (in the glove compartment, again) for the service interval recommendations and yes, be proactive, take charge and just go ahead and have a new alternator put in before the old one says “no more”, because if you do, then you will be able to sidestep a whole host of vehicle problems and headaches it would have cost you if it goes out pre-maturely.
Starter Motor – Broken
The engine on your car cranks and turns over because of the starter. That’s what its responsibility is – to crank and start the engine. But, if this little component fails, it is most likely due to the solenoid (electrical) most likely been damaged, or the starter itself is broken, or it could be something altogether something randomly electrical that might be faulty – such as the relay on the starter. While we have advocated for being proactive throughout this article and you can do so in replacing a starter motor as well – a small warning here – it is very difficult to try and predict when that might happen, as there is “no change the starter motor at the 50,000 mile mark” direction in the car manual so to speak. So, to be proactive for this particular car complaint, is probably not really in your best interest. The best bet to simply go to the mechanic’s shop and let them hook it up to a computer system and run a diagnostic on it for what they call a *car-starting inspection – and the results of that can help you resolve whatever car problem there is. Which will be better in this case, before you just start assuming it is the starter and inventing problems with the car that aren’t even there.
Shaky Steering Wheel
Now, there are multiple issues that can cause the steering wheel to begin shaking while you are driving. If the shaking begins immediately after you start the car and start to drive off, it most likely means your wheel bearings are damaged or perhaps maybe it is the suspension that is the source. If the wheel starts to shake when you reach higher speeds, it is most likely a wheel out of balance matter. In any case, on this one, it is again, better to have your personal car technician give your car a *once over to give you a diagnosis that will correct the car fault and then the car trouble is resolved.
Emissions Test = FAIL
There are many US states that still require an emissions test in order to be able to get a car registered. A failed emission can happen for a variety of explanations. There are many states that when the light comes on that says *check engine – the exam is an INSTANT fail. However, for the most part, most centers that conduct the emissions exams are generous enough to tell you why your vehicle failed, and give you a head’s up so that you can again, go see your local technician to have them make the required adjustments to be able to pass emissions. So, the blinking sign will read: Emissions test = PASS. The emissions test failure can be one of the most common vehicle problems as well as one of the most serious car problems. Sometimes it is the smallest of details that is making your vehicle fail the test. A sensor light, a wire unplugged – the car troubles can just pile up until it is very frustrating, because without a passing grade so to speak, you are unable to get your car registration, or renew your car registration.
Too Hot – Overheating
Many car owners really worry about this one and think that overheating would have been higher on the list of car issues or car complaints, or should be, because it is a concern, (and it was years ago), but truthfully, in 2020, this will occur rarely. Vehicle cooling systems in today’s cars are very complex and contain numerous sensors that keep checking on temperatures both cool and hot, the flow and all the components that go with that. However, if you have an older model vehicle, we are sure you are well advised to be on task with those radiator flushes and be sure to change out that pump (water pump) you do not want that to break on you. Take action and stop the issue before it becomes a car problem.
Automatic Transmission – Slipping
Automatic transmissions for the most part with just a little bit of maintenance can go for nearly 220K miles, maybe more with no troubles or worries. But, as with the cooling systems in the newer vehicles, the new cars with the modern transmissions have a massive hydraulic system that is composed of a number of gaskets, seals that can become so damaged and clogged up with debris or even leak. This causes the transmission to *slip or in other words, not shift smooth. Avoiding this common car complaint issue, is fairly easy, just take care of your routine service for your transmission for your make and model vehicle (yes, that’s right, check your car guide in the glove compartment for the details).
IN SUMMARY
There is no vehicle that you will own that will not require maintenance to remain safe to drive. Car maintenance is a fact of life. You own a vehicle you are going to have to take care of it, if you don’t – it won’t do you much good in the long run. However, even being diligent about staying on task of all the suggested services, and the oil and tire changes and all the suggested rotations as well. Even when you are proactive about car batteries and alternators, and starters, and such – problems are going to creep up and catch you by surprise. Be diligent, be proactive, know the common car issues that you experience with your vehicle. Be knowledgeable as you can be about the mechanical issues so you can be an informed car owner. Develop a good relationship with a local professional mechanic that you trust to help you diagnose any major car problems you may experience for the time you are the owner of your vehicle.
It is always good to be knowledgeable about what type of car you have – what is make, model, year, and all other pertinent information – because no matter what the choice of your vehicle is, you will always need and want to know what any previously listed car complaints were and are or any other car complaints or serious car problems. For specific information about make and model and year. Check out: www.carcomplaints.com