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 about 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 and discovered 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 malfunctions. Repairing these issues can cost between £600 and £800. However, the most expensive faults to fix are timing chain and belt fault noises, which could set buyers back as much as £1,200.

In addition to analyzing common faults, the survey also investigated the knowledge of potential faults among used car buyers. It found that 85% of buyers lift up the car's bonnet to inspect it. However, 45% of these buyers admitted to having no idea what they are looking for, and only 24% knew that brakes were the most common flaw to watch out for.

Reacting to the findings, AA president Edmund King emphasized the importance of a pre-purchase vehicle inspection. He compared buying a car to buying a house, stating that most people would not purchase a house without a survey. King highlighted that many common car problems are difficult for the average person to spot, even if they carry out some checks themselves. AA vehicle inspectors conduct up to 206 checks on a car, making it nearly impossible for non-motoring experts to replicate. By getting a professional inspection, buyers can avoid costly repairs and negotiate the price or request repairs before finalizing the purchase.

FutureCar Staff