What Are the Most Expensive Things to Go Wrong on A Car?

What Are the Most Expensive Things to Go Wrong on A Car?

Many of us own a car and drive it frequently.

Whether you’re taking your kids to school or going out with friends, it’s always great to have a reliable mode of transportation at your disposal.

It makes things so much easier, right? Unfortunately, owning a car is also one of the most common causes of financial ruin regarding maintenance costs.

If you research auto maintenance and regularly check the prices of replacement parts, chances are you’ll be able to stay on top of the costs for quite some time.

However, there are still certain factors that can drastically increase the cost of maintaining your car over the long term.

These are the most expensive things that can go wrong on a car.

Automatic Transmission

If you’re having problems with your car shifting gears, there’s a good chance that your automatic transmission is going bad.

This problem can be expensive to fix and usually involves replacing the entire transmission.

The average cost of a new transmission is between $1,800 and $3,400, and the labor costs can be even higher.

Broken Wiper Motor

When the wiper motor on your car doesn’t work, it can be extremely costly to replace.

It can cost hundreds of dollars to repair a broken wiper motor or thousands of dollars if you need to replace the entire unit.

More importantly, this issue occurs in many cars and will likely happen again soon.

If your wiper motor breaks while you’re on a long trip and you’re stuck with a broken wiper for your trip, you’ll spend more than $1,000 for repairs.

This is one of the most expensive things that can go wrong with a car.

Broken Alternator

A broken alternator is one of the most expensive things that can go wrong on a car.

You probably won’t notice it because the engine will continue to run just fine, but it’s still going to be expensive.

With an alternator, you have new power going into the battery and then coming out when needed.

If your alternator breaks down, you’ll need to replace it or find a way to keep running with your battery until you can get it fixed.

As soon as your alternator breaks down, you now also have to pay for a new battery every time you need a replacement part for your car.

When the owner of a vehicle has to replace their battery and repair their alternator, they could spend thousands of dollars more than if they had just maintained their car from the beginning.

Faulty Air Bags

Airbags are one of the most common and expensive things to go wrong on a car.

These safety devices account for 30-50 percent of the cost of replacing a car’s air bag.

Replacing an airbag isn’t just popping it out and putting in a new one.

It requires dozens of complex maneuvers and some advanced work to get it done right.

Fortunately, if you’re diligent with your maintenance routine, you should be able to keep these costs at bay by changing your airbags at regular intervals.

Another option is to buy a new car that doesn’t have integrated airbags.

In this case, you would need to purchase an aftermarket sensor instead, which would cost less than the original but still be costly.

Timing Belt Failure

The timing belt is a pulley that connects the crankshaft to the camshaft and ensures that your engine runs smoothly.

If it breaks, you’ll need to replace all the parts it connects.

Unfortunately, this replacement can cost up to $5,000.

This is just one of many costly things that can go wrong with cars.

The costs associated with these repairs will only increase as cars become more fuel efficient and age over time.

By staying proactive and being aware of the signs of trouble, you’ll be able to avoid some of those expensive repairs when they come time for them.

Driveline Shaft Failure

The most expensive things that can go wrong with a car are not what you might expect.

That’s because while they are costly, they also have very short lifespans.

Some of the most common examples of these expensive problems include:

– Driveline shaft failure

– Front and rear differential failure

– Unexpected engine failure: Remember that these are only some of the most expensive things that can go wrong on a car.

Many other factors, such as an accident or theft, could drastically increase your maintenance costs over time.

Exhaust System Damage

The cost of replacing an exhaust system can vary depending on the make and model of your car.

It’s not uncommon for the average range of prices to be between $1,000-$3,000.

This is because the part may need to be replaced because of a manufacturing defect, wear and tear, or due to an accident.

Exhaust systems are crucial components in your car and require regular maintenance to keep their performance up.

You’ll have to fork over more money for repairs when they break down.

Protecting Yourself with An Extended Auto Warranty

The best way to avoid the most expensive things that can go wrong with a car is to have an extended auto warranty.

This type of coverage will protect you from having to pay out of pocket for repairs or replacements when something goes wrong.

An extended auto warranty can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the long run.

When shopping for an extended auto warranty, be sure to compare different plans and prices to find the best one for you.

You should also read the fine print carefully to know exactly what’s covered and what’s not.

Conclusion

These are only some of the most expensive things that can go wrong on a car.

Many other factors, such as an accident or theft, could drastically increase your maintenance costs over time.

By staying proactive and being aware of the signs of trouble, you’ll be able to avoid some of those expensive repairs when they come time for them.