The Top 20 Car Problems and Complaints to Know About!

Having a car is an amazing investment. It makes life easier on all levels, letting you get around places faster.

Unfortunately, car ownership has a price. And this isn’t just an issue with paying money to buy the car…

It also includes the costs of maintaining a car, especially if accidents happen (or if you live in rough terrain).

And this issue applies even more when buying used cars. Because you never know what’s wrong with the car. So you’ve got to thoroughly diagnose it!

Another Issue.

Most cars get ruined due to a lack of proper care.

That is, a car gets damaged. But instead of trying to fix the damages, owners will let them compound, until they get out of control.

We don’t recommend you do that. You should keep your car in proper condition, thus keeping your family as safe as possible.

Also Read: Repairing Your Car’s Rear Differential? Here’s What You Should Do

And this is why we have the list below. We’ll show you the 20 most common problems you’ll face with your automobile.

Many of the items on this list are easier to spot in newer cars than older ones – so always keep that in-mind!

#1 – Worn Braking System

This is one of the worst problems you’ll see in a car. Here, the brakes normally wear out over the course of their life.

It’s an important safety mechanism that you should always keep in check. So what’s important here is to diagnose the problem before it gets out of control.

Also, be sure that you don’t get a car with factory defects in the braking system – where the rotors and brake pads wear down faster than normal!

#2 – Excess Oil Use

Your car needs a constant supply of fresh oil to stay functional. But, if you find that you’re constantly changing the oil often (or refilling more than necessary), then there might be an issue with how your car consumes oil.

There are signs that you need to check your oil use. And this includes a drop in the car’s performance. Also, your dashboard’s oil light is something else to watch out for.

But, if your car is in a serious need of an oil change, you may begin to see the engine corroding. Plus, you might see clogs in your oil filter, especially if you wait too long for an oil change.

Now, while certain cars do come with filter bypasses, we recommend changing the filter whenever the oil is changed!

#3 – Worn Tires

Many tires blowout or go flat due to sudden external causes. However, some cars come with defects in their factory tires.

While tread wear at the start of a car’s career is OK, excess isn’t fine.

If you feel that the car is uneven while steering, be sure to check the tires. Also, check the suspension to ensure alignment!

#4 – Radiator Leak

With a radiator leak, corrosion tends to be the cause. And what causes corrosion? It’s usually improper maintenance, or even fluid contamination.

Thus, it feels more sensible to reduce the first leaks of corrosion, especially since more should follow suit.

Whatever choice you make here, ensure you never drive the car until it gets fixed. After all, a radiator leak can cause overheating (and sometimes) engine fires!

#5 – Windshield Cracks

Like tire blowouts, cracks tend to occur from sudden external causes. However, some cars tend to come out of factory with defects that makes them more prone to windshield cracks.

This is an issue that may ruin your car’s structural integrity, so fix it as soon as possible!

#6 – Emission Systems

A car’s emission system involves all that’s necessary for it to run properly, and with minimal polluting.

And while it does handle pollution, emission systems tend to come with sensitive equipment.

Those include O2 sensors that show how much oxygen should be placed in a fuel mixture. And here, a dysfunctional OS sensor should lead to a car running with less efficiency.

#7 – Evaporation Leaks

Cars exposed to high external temperatures may lead to an expansion in the gas tank. And if venting isn’t available, there might be a buildup of pressure that damages the fuel tank.

Also, the resulting fumes are toxic. And if excessive, they make your driving experience uncomfortable.

Fixing the problem requires you keep your car’s specialized gas vents in-shape. This prevents the fumes from reaching open air.

Also, you should check for loosened fuel caps. Those tend to cause ½ the repairs of new cars while triggering many “check engine” lights.

Changing your fuel cap shouldn’t cost much. And it’s better than spending thousands to replace the entire fuel tank!

#8 – Sensor Malfunctions

Many of today’s cars operate with a range of high technology sensors. Unfortunately, many of those sensors come with their fair share of problems.

Those include fuel-air sensor faults, whose replacement costs can reach up to $250!

#9 – Transmission Problems

A car’s transmission is the system that converts engine power into torque (rotational force) so that the wheels can use them. And unfortunately, transmission issues are an item to frequently malfunction.

Transmission gears can wear down over time, which results in a lack of proper shifting. In that case, the entire transmission fails, requiring thousands of dollars for replacements!

#10 – Leaks in Transmission Fluid

Vehicle transmission necessitates special fluids to keep the components operating. This lubrication is especially vital in automatic systems, where the fluid also acts as a coolant.

Over time, holes can form in a car’s transmission due to a lack of fluid. They can form in fluid lines, gaskets, and seals. And those tears let the fluid escape, causing a leak.

If leaks are serious enough, it’ll lower the total fluid level. And this lets to lower transmission efficiency and eventual failure. And in that case, with a serious leak, you might see a red oil puddle under your car.

#11 – Filter Clogs

Transmission fluids may also pick up dirt over time. Those particulates may include anything from flaked off metal bits, to grime.

Fortunately, many transmissions have filters to remove those clogs. However, those filters may themselves get clogged throughout time.

#12 – Liquid Damage

Liquids may also leak into transmission systems. This is the case with water that drips into a radiator or the entire unit, which may cause serious flooding.

Regardless of the cause, water leaks are horrible news. Even minor amounts of water may cause the transmission to fail. This is because water causes direct damage to a transmission’s components, taking away the glue, and rusting the metals.

#13 – Speaker Problems

Another issue that modern cars experience has to do with the electronics of speaker systems. Here, failures are quite common, especially if the car was wired hastily in-factory.

Also, the speaker connection might wiggle a little bit. And this prevents the speaker from properly working. If that occurs, you can pull the speakers out and do a wire reattachment.

#14 – Light Problems

It could be a burnt bulb or a poor connection. Regardless, if you remove the headlights and braking lights while removing the turn signals, then you should have a safety issue to deal with.

Even though the bulbs themselves last a long time, poor wiring and corrosion are still serious issues.

#15 – Dying Battery

Batteries may die due to mistreatment or a factory defect. Usually, a hot summer may ruin your battery. Or, you might have left the car’s lights on for a while, leading to the battery dying out.

Dead batteries are a major cause of worry for car owners. But fortunately, the repairs are simple. All that’s necessary is to get a jump start from the neighbor!

#16 – Cosmetic Problems

Fortunately, your car problems don’t all require your immediate fix. Some issues, such as headlight yellowing, scratches, and bad windshields can still be quite annoying.

Regardless, those are all fixable. All that’s necessary is some clean wax and a paint touch-up to take care of those scratches. Also, plastic restoration kits can give your headlights a clear look again.

And finally, a new windshield wiper pair can help you stop any streaking!

#17 – Paint Issues

Those issues include discolorations, scratches, and chipping. They also include some auto paint defects, which can be quite visible on some cars.

But what matters more is rust. Those issues need to be fixed, since they can ruin a car’s structural integrity!

#18 – Bad Windows

Since power windows are now a standard, many car owners are experiencing a major problem – and that is windows don’t roll entirely up.

This isn’t worrisome, but do note, an excess of a gap puts you at a vulnerability of theft and water damages!

#19 – Bad Starters

Your car might take much more time than normal to start. And if that’s the case, you should hear a click, which may indicate that your starter is beginning to fail.

That’s a common issue, but it’s an easy repair. Just fix it quick, since if it fails, you won’t be able to start your car.

#20 – Gas Mileage Problems

This might be an engine maintenance problem. Here, keeping your MPG in-check means regularly changing the oil, replacing the air filters in your engine, and swapping out your spark plugs!