End of warranty can be start of car worries, warns NRMA

Almost one-in-five (17 per cent) of motorists surveyed by the NRMA experienced mechanical problems with their vehicles after the manufacturer’s warranty had expired, according to the motoring organisation.

The survey of 1,119 NRMA members across NSW and the ACT found that the overwhelming majority of motorists were driving older vehicles, with 79 per cent of respondents driving cars that had expired their manufacturer’s warranty.

Of those, only one quarter (25 per cent) had their vehicles inspected before their warranty period ended, while 17 per cent experienced problems after the warranty ended.

The survey found that 58 per cent of these problems occurred while the motorist was driving the vehicle.

The major post-warranty mechanical problems to occur in vehicles were drivetrain/gearbox (25 per cent), engine (23 per cent) and electrical/battery (22 per cent).

NRMA ACT Car Servicing Manager Alawi Mator said the survey highlighted the importance of car maintenance in Australia, where the national fleet was now over 10 years old.

“The average age of Australia’s fleet is older by international standards and while cars are becoming more and more reliable, mechanical problems do still exist,” Mr Mator said.

“Australians tend to hold on to their cars longer than other drivers and there are many benefits to that, especially as vehicles are now built to last. We also have a healthy second-hand market, which means motorists can get a safe and reliable car at an affordable price.”

But he said almost one-in-five of NRMA members had been exposed to mechanical problems outside of the warranty period.

“We know that if these problems aren’t fixed professionally and on budget, they can become a huge financial burden on families,” he said.

“The NRMA also encourages its Members to get a comprehensive vehicle inspection prior to the end of the life of the warranty to ensure that any servicing is covered, helping to reduce the cost for the driver.”

NRMA said it had embarked on an aggressive growth strategy to expand its member services in Car Servicing across NSW and the ACT, with plans to open additional centres this year.