More Than Eight in 10 Vehicles Need Maintenance or Repairs

The Car Care Council recently released findings from the “Check Lane” events conducted at hundreds of automotive service facilities last April in conjunction with National Car Care Month.

According to the findings, fully 84 percent of vehicles inspected at these free events were in need of some type of maintenance or repair, up from 73 percent of vehicles inspected in 2010.

Lubricants and fluids were problematic, with 28 percent of vehicles inspected possessing low, overfull or dirty engine oil; 24 percent were found to have low, leaky or dirty coolant. Other fluid/lubricant issues noted:

• 15 percent of vehicles had issues with their brake fluid.

• 18 percent had low, overfull or burnt transmission fluid.

• 18 percent had low, overfull or burnt power steering fluid.

• 23 percent had low or contaminated washer fluid.

Other components were inspected as well, with the inspections showing:

• 14 percent of vehicles needed their windshield wipers replaced.

• 20 percent were in need of belt replacement.

• 15 percent had hoses that needed replacement.

• 19 percent of vehicles were in need of an air filter replacement.

• 17 percent had battery cables, clamps and/or terminals that needed service or replacement.

• 8 percent of vehicles had tires that were not properly inflated, while 11 percent had tires that needed to be replaced due to inadequate tread depth.

• 3 percent of vehicles had at least one headlight out, while 10 percent needed a brake light replaced; elsewhere, 4 percent of vehicles had side marker lights that needed replacement, 3 percent needed turn signal light replacement, 5 percent needed backup light replacement, 2 percent needed parking/tail light replacement, and fully 16 percent needed license plate light replacement.

• 9 percent of vehicles were found with the “Check Engine” light illuminated.

• 3 percent of vehicles needed a new PCV filter, down from 18 percent in 2004.