Most common issue with used vehicles in the UK: faulty brakes

author: FutureCar Staff    

AA cars is warning used car buyers in Britain to be cautious of faulty brakes, as they have been identified as the most common issue when purchasing a second-hand vehicle. The platform has analyzed data from its expert assessors, who found that 70% of the used cars they inspected had at least one fault. Brakes were found to be the most common flaw, with an average cost of £400 to fix.

Aside from brake issues, the next most common faults were signs of previous accident damage and corrosion, followed by clutch-related malfunctions. Repairing these issues could cost between £600 and £800. The most expensive faults to fix were timing chain and belt fault noises, which could amount to £1,200.

The survey also looked into buyers' knowledge about potential faults in used cars. It found that 85% of potential buyers lift up the car's bonnet, but 45% admitted to having no idea what they should be looking for. Only 24% of buyers were aware that brakes were the most common flaw to be aware of.

Reacting to the findings, AA president Edmund King emphasized the importance of a pre-purchase vehicle inspection. He compared buying a car without an inspection to buying a house without a survey, stating that many car buyers fail to consider the benefits of an inspection before spending thousands of pounds. King noted that while some checks can be done by drivers themselves, such as looking at the bonnet, many people do not know what to look for. AA vehicle inspectors conduct up to 206 checks on a car, which is difficult for non-motoring experts to replicate.

King highlighted that purchasing a car without an inspection could result in unexpected repair costs. With 70% of used cars assessed having some kind of issue, buyers who skip inspections are taking a significant financial risk. Vehicle inspections provide peace of mind and the opportunity to negotiate the price or request repairs before finalizing the purchase.

FutureCar Staff