Written By: Kristin Brocoff  Kristinsblog@carmd.com

You may have seen CarMD in the news recently.  We just released the first annual CarMD®   Vehicle Health Index with more than 14 years’ worth of data on the most common failures,   repairs and costs affecting today’s drivers.  It’s very different from a consumer survey or vehicle rating.  This Index gets its data comes from hundreds of thousands of real-life repairs made by CarMD’s team of Automotive Service Excellence-certified mechanics.

CarMD has released this data to help drivers (and the people who service their cars) spot trends and make better-informed repair decisions.

Key Index findings?

• Four out of five of the most common repairs in 2010 were related to vehicle age and durability, which shows that vehicle manufacturers are making cars and trucks to last longer.  This is good considering the average age of a vehicle is now 10.6 years.  If you buy a car today, chances are you’ll keep it ‘til November 2021.

• The no. 1 reason for “check engine” related repairs last year was an O2 sensor failure (9.34%).  It costs less than $200 to fix and oxygen sensor, including parts and labor, but can lead to a 40% reduction in gas mileage if ignored.  That’s nearly $1,000 in wasted fuel!

• Drivers are still ignoring little problems that can result inexpensive and dangerous problems.  Catalytic converter failure ranks no. 3 in most common repairs and costs nearly $2,000 to repair.  Catalytic converters don’t usually fail unless a driver has ignored something smaller such as an O2 sensor or spark plug problem.

• While not common, two of the top 10 most expensive car repairs in 2010 were on hybrids, with “replace hybrid inverter assembly” (no. 2) weighing in at a hefty $7,000+ to repair, and “replace hybrid battery” (no. 6) costing over $3,000.  As hybrids become more popular and begin to require service, parts and labor to repair them should become more affordable.

• The good news is repair costs are down nearly 16% from a high point in 2006, an indication that automotive techs are becoming more efficient with repairing vehicles and consumers are becoming better able to communicate with their mechanics.

How Can The Index Help You?

• Check out the Repair Costs section of the Index to see how your average repair costs measure up to the national average and various regions of the country.

• Use it as a reminder to schedule that next tune up and pay attention to your car’s warning lights.  Your vehicle’s trying to talk to you.  Don’t ignore it.

• If you’re shopping for a used car, be sure to know if it has any hidden problems or needs work.  Then check out the Index to see how much repairs might cost.  If you’re thinking about buying a hybrid, be sure to factor repair costs into your buying decision, or consider an extended warranty.

• See how ignoring little problems, such as a loose gas cap, faulty spark plug or O2 sensor failure, will hurt the environment and cost you BIG time at the pump.

• Check back annually to see trends in car problems, repairs and costs, and how they relate to your region.

The entire April 2011 CarMD Vehicle Health Index is available at http://corp.carmd.com.

Kristin Brocoff, marketing manager at CarMD.com Corp, helped develop the CarMD® Vehicle Health System.  She has over 16 years of experience in marketing and public relations, including a decade in the automotive aftermarket. She serves as a member of the AskPatty.com female friendly advisory panel and the Car Care Council Women’s Board. Kristin is committed to empowering drivers – women in particular – to make smart decisions about car maintenance. She has appeared on regional and national TV and radio programs, including Fox News, Extra! TV, The Motorman Show, and more. Kristin currently resides in Las Vegas, and is a full-time working mom to two active kids and a dog.


Questions about my blog? Comment here or email me at Kristinsblog@CarMD.com