Electrical faults top UK warranty claims list
May 21, 2009 by Matt Brogan
A report released today from the UK’s second largest car manufacturer warranty services provider, Mondial Assistance, shows electrical faults are the cause of eight out of 10 warranty claims being made on modern cars.
The top ten list includes senders and sensors, monitors and plugs, coils and small electric motors such as those found in HVAC units and automated parts, like seats.
“The changing profile of motor warranty claims over the last decade reflects technological advancements, with mechanical related faults far less prevalent today,” explains Liz Grindell, Warranty Manager for Mondial Assistance. “For example, analysis of warranty claims from 2000 shows that faulty air conditioning units featured heavily, where today they are far more infrequent.
“Air conditioning was considered a luxury item back in 2000, fitted only to prestige cars, however they are now a standard fit and as such have become an item that’s tried, tested and developed to ensure it doesn’t fail.
“Although the impressive engineering developments within the motor industry have resulted in more robust, reliable vehicles protecting car owners from unexpected repair costs, things can still go wrong. i-Pod connectors, rear seat entertainment systems and parking assist technology are examples of the great innovations fitted to today’s vehicles, which is why warranties need to evolve too.”
Have you had any electrical faults with your new car? Leave a comment now.
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Wow thats a shock !
^^ LOL
Now Now BM (.):-)(.) lets leave that kind of humour to Rove……….. I don’t laugh at his comments neither…
Do electrical faults include the alternator failing to work because it’s been speared by the conrod coming out the side of the block?
Care to name the engine, Capt’n?
Now now Frontman. BM is just trying to find a positive side. She is very down to earth and is Eveready to talk all things electrical. Negative comments can leave us all feeling flat and in need of a re charge. Anyway i don’t want to spark a debate so i will get back to the point. Anything that is man made can and will fail. No electrical system is full proof so of course warranty should cover any malfunctions. Surprisingly simplicity is normally the key to faultless electrical systems.
hahaha Frontman……….whats your head doing there ?
Hey brother Mainwaring,what rod and whos block ? Give us the low down !
Oxygen sensors on the BA GT………went thru 8 ! Changed over to Bosch ones no problem .
Of course the more ecky stuff you have the more problems occur,especially when they get a little older. Had the brake light sensor {the on board computer detects when a globe is blown }replaced twice in the M3, electric windows switches are meant to be a little d1cky in them ,but havent died on me yet.
New cars… we dont tend to worry about cause we think of it “under warranty” .When we buy low K cars we think of the engine and drive train lasting that bit longer for us {well I do},but we ignore the electricals, thinking its not as a big expense ,perhaps but is bloody annoying and slowly you just cant be bothered getting them fixed at all!
What a buzz Salesman ,very well done and said ,can you make comments like that all the time or is it just PHASE your going through ?
Haha where’s your sense of humour guys? Nothing to do with any particular engine but a lot to do with how some mechanics in the old days used to describe electrical faults. Maybe you’re all too young.
Here at Ford (and no I’m not a ford fan :p) It’s mainly oil and exhaust leaks. And lower control arms on territorys.
Oh really………..Im generation X ,just, and never heard of that Captain. Maybe its an NZ thingy ;)
Just feeling very switched on BM. The currant climate in the car industry has become static. A real surge of energy coming from the board at the moment. It like someone just blew a fuse and had some really bright ideas.
Of course electrical faults are going to be more common; there are more weak points and areas that can fail electrically than mechanically.
Now we are having a humourous afternoon aren’t we??? The Salesman, switched on???? LOL!!!! :-p
If you think electrical problems are funny than your brain just is not wired correctly. Some problems can be terminal. I am just trying to find a common ground that hot wires a solution and harnesses the problem.
Haven’t you got some woodducks that need to nailed to the wall or something???? Look here come some straight from Sunco :-)
Thats funny , I thought all europian cars were suposed to be super reliable.
Its a UK study alright
Quote…….
“In 2000 A/C was only found on prestige vehicles”
Does that make the XF I had a prestige vehicle???
In OZ they call it brain dead if you dont have it, not a luxury if you do
This the AC thing is now the norm in the UK and would really called it a luxury personally. Our cars have generally had AC for at least last 10yrs as standard in the usual family cars.
As for electrical faults, other than than blown bulbs(which my Vectra seems to love doing) never had other problems other than the usual French unreliability in citroen or pugs.
Cupid,
would be more like 30 yrs that A/C has been standard on Aussie sold vehicles, its certainly a contrast
Not quite as warm here Andrew. Spring day here typically is 15°C top summer temps for a short while are late twenties. AIr con is more normally used for removing misting of windows. I remember our clapped out Ford Laser (KF) had a marvelous systems and seemed to blow far colder aire than many here.
Andrew, yes A/C has been in Australia for 30 years, but not standard. Always been quoted as an optional extra until recent.
Think Ford made it standard? Not sure on what model, AU?
Frenchie,
I just double checked, and you are right, it was standard across the whole range in AU.
Previous to that it was standard on models above GL right back to at least XF that i know of, maybe further.
Eitherway my point way that most cars in OZ have been fitted with it for a long time.
Sure the commodore may not have had A/C techniclly as standard till very recently, but you try and find a 20yr old commodore with out it.
The fitting of A/C pretty much became part of the on roads cost………everyone had it
Even if you tried to order one speficlly with out it, im sure you would have gotten it