Community Car Care Events Show Most Vehicles Need Service

Community car care events conducted across the country reveal that the majority of vehicles need service on one or more inspected areas of the vehicle.

“At the Car Care Council, we stress the importance of preventative vehicle maintenance and provide free tools, tips and information to help motorists become more car care aware so they can avoid the hassle and expense associated with unexpected car trouble,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “By implementing a proactive auto care plan, car owners can identify and fix small issues now before they become more costly repairs later.”

The community car care event inspections checked a variety of vehicle components including wipers, belts, hoses, air filters, lighting, tires and lubricant/fluids. The Car Care Council gathered and tabulated the results and found that eight out of 10 vehicles need some type of service. The top areas showing the highest failure rates include:

• Engine Oil – 22 percent of vehicles tested had low, overfull or dirty oil.
• Belts/Hoses – inspections revealed 18 percent of belts were unsatisfactory and at least 12 percent of vehicles needed a new hose.
• Air Filters – nearly one out of every five vehicles inspected needed a new air filter.
• Check Engine Light – 14 percent of vehicles had an illuminated check engine light, slightly higher than the previous year’s results.
• Batteries – battery cables, clamps and terminals were found to be in need of repair on 18 percent of vehicles inspected.