Comprehensive Guide to Common Car Problems
While cars boast high reliability within the auto industry, they aren’t entirely free of issues. This comprehensive guide aims to highlight some common car problems that owners or potential buyers should be aware of.
Before we delve into the specifics, let’s establish that these issues do not undermine the overall quality and performance of cars. Every vehicle make and model has its own set of quirks and flaws. The primary objective here is to inform and equip you better when dealing with these problems.
1. Engine Oil Leaks
Car isn’t immune to engine oil leaks. This issue seems to be particularly prevalent in some car models such as the Frontier, Rogue, Versa, and Altima.
In some cases, the issue was traced back to sub-standard bolting used during production.
Despite this, Cars seems to have improved in recent years, with fewer oil leak issues reported.
Causes of Oil Leaks
Overlooking oil leaks can result in sky-high maintenance costs. Most oil leaks originate from degraded engine gaskets or leaky oil pans. Other times, bad connections, fittings, or a broken filler cap might be the culprits.
Depending on the severity, fixing an oil leak in a car could cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000.
2. Rust Issues
Car has faced significant criticism for rust-related problems, especially with the Navara truck.
Severe rust can weaken the link between the cabin and cargo area, leading to the infamous snapping that can leave the connection completely severed.
While snapping incidents aren’t common, rust issues are. It’s not just the Navara; other models like the Altima and Xterra also face similar issues. Regular inspection of your car’s underbody to ensure it’s rust-free is recommended.
Causes of Rust
Several factors contribute to rusting in cars. Continuous exposure to rain, snow, or sun rays can increase the likelihood of metallic parts rusting. Neglect and lack of proper care can also exacerbate rusting. With time, the paintwork and protective coatings on your vehicle may degrade and wear off, making your car more prone to rust.
3. Sunroof Issues
Certain Car models like the Maxima, Pathfinder, Rogue, Murano, Infiniti JX35, and QX60 have reported issues with sunroofs shattering and causing injuries.
The aftermath of exploding sunroofs can result in injuries to passengers and even cause drivers to become disoriented while driving, leading to potentially fatal accidents.
Causes of Sunroof Issues
Extreme weather and debris contact are often blamed for shattering sunroofs. However, most drivers who have experienced sunroof explosions believe it occurs randomly due to substandard engineering. Laminated glass is suggested as a safer alternative to tempered ones for sunroofs, as it won’t shatter suddenly even when compromised.
4. Fuel Gauge Problems
Fuel gauge issues in cars often stem from a malfunctioning fuel-sending unit.
When the sending unit fails, it displays incorrect fuel readings, and the fuel gauge can get stuck in either ‘full’ or ‘empty’.
Car has also recalled several vehicles due to faulty fuel gauges.
5. Transmission Issues
Car CVT transmission problems peaked between 2012 and 2015, especially evident in the Sentra and Altima models. Issues involved poor CVT response, vibration, rough running, stuck gear shift, and loss of acceleration. In severe cases, total transmission failure occurred. In case, you are looking for a trusted car mobile mechanic to get the transmission repair, we would like to suggest you Service My Car, the best and trusted mobile car workshop in the town.
Despite these issues, it’s worth noting that cars are unique for their zero-gravity seats feature.
6. Backup Camera Issues
Over a million cars have been recalled due to backup camera issues.
An error in affected cars allows drivers to tweak their backup camera settings to prevent images from displaying, violating federal safety standards.
Models like the Altima and the Frontier have commonly reported backup camera issues.
Pros and Cons of Vehicles
Cars have their strengths and weaknesses.
Pros
• Exceptional overall performance
• Impressive handling
• Affordable pricing
• Spacious cabin
• Sporty design
• Comfortable interior
Cons
• Engine stalling
• Backup camera issues
• Transmission issues
• Faulty fuel gauge
• Oil leaks
• Rust issues
Reviews on Vehicles
According to J.D. Power, vehicles have impressive ratings. The 2021 Altima won the award for the highest quality midsize car, and the Frontier won the award for the most dependable midsize pickup.
Car also has a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, ranking 9th out of all 32 car brands.
Final Thoughts
Knowing about these common car problems doesn’t mean you should steer clear of the brand. Instead, this knowledge equips you to make informed decisions when buying or maintaining your vehicle.