Car electrical problem. Most frequently reported bugs

Polish mechanics rated the condition of electrical systems in cars on our roads at 4 on a 6-point school scale. This is another list prepared on the basis of the "Ranking of car failure rates according to Polish mechanics" developed by the ProfiAuto brand. The best ratings were given to cars of German and Japanese brands - Toyota Yaris II, Honda Civic VIII and Audi A4 (B5), and the worst ones from French - e.g. Renault Scénic III and Peugeot 307.– Failures related to electrical systems are one of the most common types of faults reported by drivers. There are many reasons and they can have very different sources, e.g. a short circuit in the installation, a blown fuse or even a discharged battery. It must be remembered that electrical systems are very complex and delicate, and at the same time they work in harsh operating conditions. Their failure often also affects other components responsible for safety while driving and proper driving of the car. It's spring, which is the time when we will be more willing to go on various trips or weekends with friends or family. That is why it is not worth underestimating the warning signals sent by the car and it is worth going to a specialist as soon as possible and verifying that everything is fine with our vehicle - says Łukasz Kopiec, marketing director of ProfiAuto.

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Certain failures cannot be predicted, but some can be avoided

The best in the ranking list were cars of German and Japanese brands, which equally divided the places in the top ten with the best results. It is worth adding here that there are cars from all price groups included in the ranking, i.e. in the ranges from PLN 20 to 30 thousand, from PLN 10 to 20 thousand, as well as those from the lowest price range - up to PLN 10 thousand. Interestingly, about 80% of the worst-rated cars are French cars, also from all price groups. It is therefore difficult to predict when and if a fault may occur at all, because its occurrence is mainly due to the construction of electrical systems. For example, in French cars, controllers, modules and fuses are often located in places exposed to moisture, which causes an above-average failure rate. In addition, car manufacturers from across the Seine are trying hard to stand out from the competition with technological innovations, which often pass the test phase directly on the road. This causes frustration among drivers, because unforeseen failures prevent a smooth journey - emphasizes Mariusz Maksym, ProfiAuto specialist. - The philosophy of Japanese car production is different, which is distinguished by a strong restraint in the use of unproven solutions, which, of course, is reflected in high positions in the failure rate ranking - adds Mariusz Maksym.

Condition of electrical systems in individual price groups

Among cars worth up to about PLN 10,000, mechanics gave the highest rating (5) to the Audi A4 (B5). This model had the fewest or no failures reported. The lowest score (2.7) in this price range was obtained by two Renault models - Laguna II and Mégane II. In both, attention was paid primarily to failures of: UPC/BSI controllers, tire pressure sensors, ignition coils, as well as a number of faults related to lamps, locks, steering lock or windows. In the range of about PLN 10,000 to PLN 20,000, Toyota Yaris was the best performer II (5.0), which also received the highest rating for electrical systems in the entire ranking (together with the Honda Civic VIII from the higher price group). In this model, the mechanics found practically no faults. The worst in this price group was the Peugeot 307 (2.7). Its electrics were rated as poor by mechanics, but above all by drivers complaining about the need for frequent visits to the workshop in order to remove a problem. The most common were ignition coil failures, leaky cable protection and moisture inside the systems, as well as a number of general, often recurring faults, such as sensor failures. Civic VIII. This is the model in which mechanics had the fewest complaints about electrical systems. This does not mean, however, that system failures do not occur in this model at all. Among the faults typical for it, e.g. damage to the speedometer screen was reported. The big loser of the ranking in this group is Renault Scénic III (2.6), which is also the worst rated model in terms of electrics in the entire "Ranking of car failure rates according to Polish mechanics".***

Survey methodology:

The survey was conducted among 1,300 Polish mechanics in July-August 2017 using the CATI method. Mechanics were asked 4 questions about three selected models from among the 50 most popular (selected on the basis of popularity analysis from Google Trends). The respondents, based on their experience, indicated the five most common types of defects in a given model. They assessed the reliability of the car on a scale of 1-6 in the following categories: body, electrical system, drive, suspension. They indicated the best (least unreliable) version of the engine of the selected model, and also answered the question: "Would you recommend this car to a favorite family member?" Detailed test results can be found at www.profiauto.pl/raport

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