News

What's likely to break or fail on your car: Owners share their lists

23rd June 2022, 12:17 by Dev Shah

The automatic transmission of my Hyundai Xcent isn't working and is identified to be an ECM issue.

GTO recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Saw a fun discussion on Jalopnik recently and thought it'll be a great read here.

2012 Nissan Sunny @ 61000 km: Main issue is it doesn't start on the first crank. Requires a L-O-N-G crank if it works at all. However, switch it off, then restart, and the engine fires up quickly. Weird. It's the beater so I don't get small stuff fixed until the annual service visit. As long as the beater runs, that's enough for me. Will fix at next service visit.
2021 Skoda Superb @ 6000 km: Nothing. Everything is perfect.
1997 Mahindra Classic @ 200,000 km: Wipers are running too slow (like crawling across the windscreen), the famous Jeep death wobble has returned (wild steering movement at speed), passenger seatbelt broken. Will fix in June-July (open Jeep so limited usage in monsoon anyway).
2013 BMW 530d @ 50,000 km: Nothing. 9 years up and top-class reliability + build.

Here's what BHPian Dhruv29 had to say on the matter:

Lexus ES300h: In the shop since 1 month due to multiple MID errors/not starting on first try intermittently. Waiting for wiring harness from Japan.
VW Tiguan Allspace: DSG/Drivetrain fault. Changing gearboxes like annual oil change. Waiting for 3rd gearbox to come from Germany.

Here's what BHPian Sanidhya mukund had to say on the matter:

Mercedes C-class. (8 years, 27k on the odo)
ABS sensor failed
Tyres due for replacement
Engine mounts are worn out
Needs a new battery
Spark plugs need to be replaced
Wiper blades need to be replaced
Front bumper needs to be repainted
Needs new Auto Transmission fluid
Ford Ikon: (22 years, 70k on the odo):
Radiator needs to be serviced
AC cooling coil is leaking
Front strut mounts worn out
Battery is 5 years old now
Instrument cluster bulb fused
Maruti Esteem: (27 years, 21k on the odo):
Rear brake shoes
Wheel bearings
Strut mounts worn out
Slight leak from the exhaust
Needs new spark plugs
Door pads need new trim
Maruti Omni: (6 years, 2 lakh on the odo):
It is being (ab)used like a typical van. All parts other than the horn make noise.
Tata Estate: (29 years, 85k on the odo):
Engine seized
Suspension gone completely
Wires and interiors chewed by rats
Tyres, brakes, bearings, bushes, bellows and pipes, all need to be replaced
The entire body has been consumed by rust
2021 Maruti Ertiga: (7 months, 12k on the odo):
Bonnet release lever broken
Front passenger side inside door handle broken
Accidental damage on the front door and fender
The Merc and Ertiga are currently at their respective workshops getting fixed. Once they are back, the Ikon and Esteem will be sorted and the Omni will go in for an overhaul. The Tata Estate will probably have to wait another year.

Here's what BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR had to say on the matter:

2014 Hyundai Xcent - 30k km done - What is currently not working - well, car has been at Hyundai authorized service for 44 days now! So the whole car!
Going into the details - the supposed-to-be-reliable TC automatic transmission isn't working and identified to be an ECM issue. Catcon isn't working because it crumbled up inside like cookies.
Previous major issues include a broken crankshaft assembly bolt that resulted in the entire belt assembly falling off from the car, a couple of ABS sensors gone wrong, a/c that barely works in the summer etc.
2022 Jeep Compass - 4k km done - Too new to comment.
2012 Fiat Punto (sold last month) - 207k km done - What was not working at the time of sale? The stock ICE (Microsoft Blue&Me) gave up long back and had to be upgraded. Boot struts had lost tension and could not hold the boot up in place when opened - couldn't change it before the sale. Everything else was almost routine and changed as per the age and usage of the car.

Here's what BHPian vishy76 had to say on the matter:

2012 Chevrolet Spark
Odometer: 20,200 km
Directional controls for the air conditioning don't work. The cable that connects the knob to the HVAC console which in turn controls a slider that changes the flow of air from face to feet to windshield etc. has snapped. Haven't bothered fixing it. Chevrolet sells the entire console for 5500.
Headlamp wiring harness (relay kit I installed) has melted connectors due to sub-par quality. Need to change it ASAP.
Headlamp stalk has a weird issue where both the low and high beams tend to come on due to a short in the switch when you nudge it very lightly.
Gear selector lever has play due to worn selector cables. Can be remedied for 1500 bucks.
Fuel Pump is slightly weak. As a result, if the fuel level drops to 5-6L or lower, the car has a tendency to jerk under full throttle or is sometimes hesitant to start.
All in all, not bad for a car that is nearing the 10 year mark. Electrical issues have been more common than mechanical ones.
2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Odometer: 97,800 km
Rear AC vents are broken. You can't make out visually, but the louvres that are used to adjust the direction of air flow have snapped from the vents and come free because someone kicked them most probably
The armrest tends to creak when extended all the way forward. Known issue.
No other issues. Most have been remedied by me. I will be replacing the clutch master cylinder as proactive maintenance in the next month.
2017 Renault Kwid
Odometer: 52,500 Km
Front suspension needs an overhaul. Control arms, ARB bushes, link rods and I think even the dampers are shot.
Tappet cover has a very minor oil leak, which causes oil to seep onto the hot exhaust shield and burn.
Remote key has a broken unlock button. Need to unlock the car manually using the mechanical blade.
Blower motor has been making noise on and off.
AMT gearbox clutch has reached the end of its life. Jerks while downshifting and letting off from a standstill.
I am in no mood to retain the Kwid at all. It will most probably be sold off by next month or the month after. Will be replaced by an Ignis Delta AMT in all probability.