New data has revealed that motorists could soon be hit by repair bills that are 10% higher than usual thanks to the summer taking its toll on their cars reliability. The warning comes from the specialist insurer Warranty Direct, who have disclosed a list of which car parts fail the most in the summer months between June-August.
The warmer and drier climes that we experience through the summer seem to take its toll on suspension and axle failures, which account for more than a quarter of the claims made to Warranty Direct. Major internal engine problems and engine cooling breakdowns account for 9.16% and 9.34% of claims respectively and can result in repair bills of as much as £7,239.
The average repair bill is 10% higher in the summer than in the winter and over 4 in 10 motorists make a claim between June-August, compared with 36% during the winter months. In 2010, 4/5 of the most costly repair bills occurred between the months of June and August.
The parts most likely to fail during June-August
| Part of Car | Proportion of claims (%) | |
| 1 | Axle & Suspension | 25.39 |
| 2 | Engine Cooling System | 9.35 |
| 3 | Major Engine fault | 9.16 |
| 4 | Braking System | 5.36 |
| 5 | Steering System | 4.77 |
| 6 | Battery | 4.64 |
| 7 | Manual Transmission | 4.63 |
| 8 | Air Conditioning | 4.62 |
| 9 | Turbo | 3.61 |
| 10 | Ignition System | 3.58 |
Overall, the 10 components identified by Warranty Direct as most likely to cause a breakdown in the summer account for over 75% of claims during that period.
Brake and steering components are the next most likely items to fail during the summer – though equally susceptible in the winter – followed by the battery, transmission and ignition system.
Unsurprisingly, more air-conditioning malfunctions surface as temperatures climb, while turbochargers round off the top 10.
Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct said: “Cars are complex and sensitive to the environment they are subjected to.
“In these straightened times, anything a motorist can do to mitigate motoring costs, or at least make them more predictable, is worthwhile. Maintenance and a degree of mechanical sympathy make a difference, but often breakdowns just happen.”
Warranty Direct cover starts from as little as £15 a month. All policies protect against wear & tear, failures caused by uninsured parts and failures found during a service or MOT.
For more information on the reliability of your vehicle, visit www.reliabilityindex.com, or for a quote on cover www.warrantydirect.co.uk.
