People use vehicles for convenience. They help them get to places quickly and comfortably. However, when a car is used daily, it is not uncommon for issues to arise. When left unmaintained, vehicles with malfunctions can result in severe consequences, such as higher repair costs, more inconvenience, and, in severe cases, car accidents.
It is, then, essential to learn the most common car issues drivers overlook that can lead to severe auto crashes.
Why Do Car Issues Occur?
Car issues don’t just happen out of nowhere. They are usually the result of deeper mechanical, electrical, or environmental factors.
For instance, most frequently used cars get worn out over time. No matter how well a car is built, its parts aren’t meant to last. Brakes wear down, batteries weaken, and tires lose tread. This is why most cars need maintenance once in a while to replace expired or worn parts.
Aside from this, not consistently maintaining a vehicle can result in serious car issues. If you skip oil changes, ignore strange sounds, or put off a scheduled check-up, these all can lead to bigger problems.
Unfortunately, if repairs aren’t done properly, this can also lead to malfunctions. Improper installations, cheap replacements, or DIY fixes can cause more harm than good. Especially with modifications, incorrect suspension lifts or oversized tires can mess with your steering, braking, and stability, putting everyone at risk.
Finally, environmental damage paired with driving habits can also lead to your vehicle wearing down. Weather, road salt, potholes, and even extreme heat or cold can cause wear on your vehicle. Hard braking, rapid acceleration, riding the clutch, and neglecting warning lights all stress your vehicle unnecessarily.
Car issues are often preventable. Regular maintenance, responsible driving, and being informed about your car’s needs can save you from the stress, expense, and danger of unexpected breakdowns.
5 Car Issues with Severe Consequences
Here are five common car issues that drivers often overlook, how they happen, and why fixing them is a smart move and a safety must.
Issue # 1: Brake Wear or Fading
Every time you press your brake pedal, your vehicle relies on a complex system to convert speed into stopping power. The brakes generate intense heat and friction as the brake pads clamp down on your rotors, slowing your car down safely.
But over time, this constant friction wears the brake pads thinner. If you’re frequently stuck in stop-and-go traffic, drive downhill often, or have a habit of braking hard, that wear accelerates. Eventually, your brake pads lose their ability to grip effectively. In some cases, the system may even overheat, leading to what’s known as brake fade, a condition where your brakes feel soft or unresponsive when you need them most.
Can Worn Brakes Cause an Accident?
Yes. Worn or fading brakes increase your stopping distance, meaning your car won’t stop as quickly or reliably in critical moments. That slight delay can be between safely stopping and slamming into the vehicle ahead.
In severe cases, the brake can even lose its function; without it, you will directly hit anyone or anything in front of you.
Issue #2 Worn-Out Tires
Your tires are the only parts of your vehicle that physically touch the road, making them one of the most crucial components for safety. But with every mile, tires gradually lose tread, the textured surface that provides grip and traction.
That wear is perfectly normal, but it can happen faster if your tires are:
- Underinflated – This causes more surface area to touch the road, creating extra friction and heat that wears the rubber down prematurely.
- Misaligned – If your wheels are slightly out of alignment, the tires wear unevenly, weakening their performance and safety.
- Not rotated regularly – Front and rear tires wear at different rates. Skipping routine rotations causes certain tires to degrade faster.
- Exposed to rough roads or high heat – Potholes, gravel, and sunbaked pavement wear out tires much faster than smooth city streets.
Moreover, even if your tires look fine, they could be aging from the inside. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some companies recommend a maximum tire service period of 6 years from the vehicle’s purchase date. After this, you should replace the tire regardless of the amount of tire wear.
Is Driving Worn-Down Tires Risky?
Driving worn-out tires can cause significant risks on the road. Did you know that 646 deaths result from tire-related crashes?
Bald or worn-down tires are like running shoes with no tread; you lose grip, especially when it matters most.
- Tires without sufficient tread can’t effectively channel water away in wet weather. This increases the risk of hydroplaning, where your car slides uncontrollably across the road surface.
- Worn tires reduce traction during sharp turns or sudden stops, making it harder to control the vehicle or come to a safe stop.
- In emergencies, the extra seconds needed to slow down can be the difference between stopping safely and crashing into another vehicle or object.
Issue #3: Blurry Windshields or Worn-Out Wipers
Your vision is your first line of defense on the road. But what happens when your view is compromised, not by fog or rain, but by your vehicle?
Over time, your windshield is constantly exposed to dirt, dust, road debris, bird droppings, tree sap, and bug splatter. Regular cleaning doesn’t always remove micro-scratches or water spots that build up, especially after years of sun exposure or poor maintenance.
At the same time, windshield wipers, your backup during a downpour, don’t last forever. They crack, dry out, or warp from UV damage from the sun, extreme heat or cold, and infrequent use, which allows the rubber to harden and lose flexibility.
So when a storm hits or dirt kicks up, your worn blades streak or smear your windshield instead of sweeping it clear, making a bad situation worse.
Why Is It Dangerous to Drive with Worn-Out Wipers?
Driving with a blurry windshield or ineffective wipers is dangerous, especially at night or during heavy rain. This is because poor visibility is a leading cause of wet-weather collisions. If you can’t see the road, lane lines, pedestrians, or other vehicles, your ability to make safe, split-second decisions is gone.
In addition, the glare from oncoming headlights can magnify scratches and smears on your windshield, creating dangerous halos and further obscuring your vision.
Issue # 4: Low Engine Oil or Skipped Oil Changes
Your engine might be the heart of your car, but engine oil is the lifeblood that keeps it beating smoothly. And like any vital system, neglecting it can have devastating consequences.
Engine oil is one of your car’s most important components. It lubricates, cools, and cleans the intricate moving parts inside your engine. But oil needs changing from time to time.
Over time, engine oil begins to break down from heat and friction, losing its protective ability. It also collects dirt, dust, fuel residue, and microscopic metal shavings, turning into a thick, dirty sludge if it isn’t changed regularly.
Skipping oil changes or letting the oil level drop too low causes:
- Increased friction between metal components
- Rising engine temperatures
- Build-up of contaminants that block oil flow
- And eventual breakdown of critical parts
Many drivers delay oil changes because of cost or inconvenience, but the longer they wait, the greater the risk.
Can Low Engine Oil Cause Crashes?
Driving with low engine oil can cause auto crashes. Without clean, sufficient oil, your engine starts to overheat and grind itself to pieces from the inside out. When it overheats, the vehicle can quickly shut down even on the road.
Moreover, seizing can destroy the engine block, sometimes requiring a complete engine replacement that costs thousands. In extreme cases, a neglected engine can even catch fire from overheating, putting you and your passengers in immediate danger.
What is more troubling is that you might not notice the warning signs until too late. A faint burning smell, a dashboard warning light, or sluggish performance could be the only clues before catastrophic failure.
Issue #5 Broken Headlights or Tail Lights
Your headlights and taillights might seem like simple components, but they are critical in keeping you and everyone around you safe on the road. When they fail, your risk of being in a serious accident can skyrocket, especially in low-visibility conditions.
Unfortunately, lighting issues are some of the most common yet overlooked vehicle problems. Over time, even the best-quality bulbs burn out, dim, or flicker due to age or prolonged use.
Additionally, broken lights can also result from the following:
- Moisture can seep into light housings, especially after heavy rain or car washes, leading to short circuits or foggy lenses.
- Corroded wiring or loose connections can cause intermittent lighting failures that go unnoticed until it’s too late.
- Cracked housings from minor bumps or road debris can let in water or dirt, speeding up wear and tear.
Is it Risky to Drive With Bad Headlights?
Lights don’t just help you see the road. They help other drivers see you. Malfunctioning headlights or taillights are especially dangerous at night, during heavy rain, fog, or early mornings.
Without working tail lights or brake lights, drivers behind you can’t tell when you are slowing down, stopping, or turning. That split-second delay in reaction time can be the difference between a safe stop and a crash.
So, when your signal lights aren’t working, it becomes even harder for others to understand your next move, making the road more chaotic and dangerous for everyone around you.
In many cases, the other driver may not see you until it’s too late, especially on dark roads without street lights.
What to Do After a Car Accident Caused by Vehicle Issues
Drivers must maintain their vehicles consistently and effectively to avoid further complications, such as car accidents. However, if car issues result in crashes, involved individuals must understand the proper steps to protect their well-being and rights.
- Get to Safety: Moving your vehicle to a safe spot off the road to avoid further danger.
- Check for Injuries: Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt, even if injuries seem minor.
- Turn on Hazard Lights: This will let others know your car is disabled, especially if it’s dark or your lights aren’t working.
- Call the Police: A police report can document the cause of the accident, which is important for both insurance and legal claims.
- Capture the scene: If it is safe to do so, take clear photos of everything, including your vehicle’s damage, the road conditions, any visible mechanical issues, and the overall accident scene.
- Exchange Information: Share contact, insurance, and vehicle details with other drivers.
- Avoid Admitting Fault: Don’t speculate or apologize even if you suspect the issue was with your car.
- Get a Vehicle Inspection: Have a mechanic inspect your car to identify the exact failure and get a written report.
- Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer: A qualified car accident lawyer can determine if a mechanic, repair shop, or manufacturer is liable and if you are still eligible for compensation even if your car caused the collision.
Car problems can be dangerous. Something as simple as worn brakes or bald tires can put you, your passengers, and everyone around you at serious risk. Taking care of these issues isn’t just about keeping your car running but about keeping everyone safe on the road.
If a mechanical failure or overlooked issue played a role in your crash or someone else’s poorly maintained vehicle put you in harm’s way, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. A legal team can help you hold the right parties accountable and pursue the compensation you need to move forward.