Top 10 Reliability Issues Effecting Newer Vehicles

Valerie Raskovic

Sep 17, 2024

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We all get tempted by those commercials featuring vehicles with the latest and greatest tech and features however, is a new vehicle that much better than what we currently drive? Mainly what we aim to find out is if a newer vehicle produced within the last 3 years is going to be more reliable and worry free than what we currently own. In this article we will examine some of the pitfalls plaguing new vehicles today and what you should know before you make a purchase decision.

In recent years, modern vehicles have become increasingly complex. Most vehicles made within the last 5 years are packed with extensive safety features, multiple digital displays and are packed with advanced technology. While these innovations offer enhanced driving experiences, they can often lead to considerable reliability concerns.

Below are our top 10 reliability issues effecting modern vehicles in the US market today sorted by severity:

1. Transmission Problems
   
   In an effort to improve gas mileage and efficiency auto manufactures have opted to equip a lot of vehicles with unconventional automatic transmissions, which have demonstrated premature failures and overall reliability issues.  Going beyond adding more and more gears to allow the vehicle to maintain low RPM even at a higher highway speed some auto manufacturers adapted the troublesome Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs). These transmissions are becoming more common in newer cars. These transmissions use a belt style drive which is prone to premature wear, along with a slew of other issues. Many owners of vehicles equipped with these transmissions report failures such as slipping, harsh engagement which typically leads to very costly repairs. The other things that complicate the matters most new automatic transmissions contain solenoids and other small electronic components that are molded into aluminum casings making them essentially unrepairable. Added to the fact that most manufacturers do not sell some of the internal electrical components separately this could lead to extensive and unnecessary main component replacements. As the only way to repair a modern-day transmission with a minor internal electrical problem is to replace a big and expensive component of the transmission such as the valve body.


2. Excessive Engine Oil Consumption
   
   A lot of the newer car models now use very thin viscosity engine oil. One of the most common thickness of engine oil in modern day vehicles now is 0W-20. The issue with using this oil has nothing to do with its lubricating abilities but more to do with overall new car engine design. Since the oil is thinner the vehicle manufacturers use thinner oil passages increasing chances of them clogging. In addition, to further increase gas efficiency some manufacturers started using looser clearances within the actual engine making them prone to blow by. Blow by is a phrase used to describe when the engine oil enters the combustion chamber and a little bit of oil is burned along with the gas during each combustion cycle. Most vehicle technicians agree that to avoid excessive oil consumption in newer cars the owners must perform more frequent oil changes. However, the issue arises when manufacturers purposely extend oil change intervals sometimes even past 10,000 in order to reduce the vehicles maintenance cost numbers within the first couple of years of ownership.  This practice of overextending oil change intervals is all common in the auto industry today and can be both inconvenient and costly in the long term for new car owners.


3. Direct fuel Injection & Turbocharger Issues
   
   In order to meet Miles Per Gallon (MPG) mandates a lot of auto manufacturers have been replacing some of their bigger 6 and even 8-cylinder engine vehicle models with more high strung smaller direct injected turbocharged engines. While turbocharged engines are great for fuel efficiency and power, they can suffer from reliability problems like premature wear, oil leaks, and complete turbo failure if not properly maintained. In addition, due to the nature of direct fuel injected vehicles they are more prone to accumulate excessive amount of carbon build up around the valves causing them to run below efficiency and pose some serious reliability issues. The only way to negate some of this drawback is to check and top off the engine oil as needed frequently and keep the oil change intervals limited to every 5,000 miles even with fully synthetic long-lasting oil.


4. Fuel System Failures
   
   In the recent years we have observed a higher rate of fuel system recalls and problems reported by new car owners. The issue mainly has to do with the fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and other parts of fuel system components. These components often fail due to poor-quality components or contamination, leading to reduced performance, misfires, or engine stalls. Speaking from personal experience I had this happen in my own newer vehicle when the O-rings on the fuel injectors sprung a leak due to the fact they were not designed to cope with 10% ethanol/alcohol content added by most modern-day conventional US gas stations to their regular and high-octane fuels. My vehicle was repaired under its new car warranty however, I had to be more aware where I buy my gas and even test the gas in a Gerry can for alcohol content before adding it to my fuel tank.


5. Engine Timing Chain and Timing Belt Failures
   
   In order to reduce weight and friction within the engine and to improve fuel economy some manufacturers have been using subpar light duty materials and inferior design styles for vital vehicle timing components such as the plastic timing chain guides, timing chains and belts. The issues arise when these low drag timing chains or belts stretch or break prematurely, leading to catastrophic engine damage. These engine repairs can be complex and expensive and, in many cases, require a full engine replacement.


6. Brake System Problems
   
   One of the more common issues experienced by new car owners has to do with the introduction of electronic braking systems and regenerative braking in hybrids. These new cars may experience brake sensor failures or more serious issues such as irregular brake pad wear which may lead to reduced braking performance. Some brake system failures do not always pause a safety risk however, it is highly advised that any issues with the vehicles safety systems are addressed promptly.


7. Battery and Electrical System Failures
   
   Newer cars are packed with electronics and computers which constantly communicate within themselves. In fact, most new vehicles demand power from the battery even while the vehicle is turned off causing for premature battery drain when the vehicle is not being used and remains parked.  Even a minor fault in the modern vehicle electrical system can lead to a wide range of problems, from dead batteries to malfunctioning sensors and lights. This is especially common in hybrid and electric vehicles. This leads to extensive diagnostic times.


8. Infotainment System Glitches
   
   Modern cars are equipped with complex infotainment systems that can malfunction, freeze, or crash. As manufacturers continue to integrate more essential vehicle controls into touch screen displays, the failure of these screens can render critical functions inaccessible. Beyond the inconvenience and frustration felt by the owners and operators of these vehicles it may also add extensive diagnostic time followed by high repair bills. 


9. Software Updates and Malfunctions
   
   With cars becoming more software-driven, updates are needed to fix bugs or introduce new features. However, these updates can sometimes cause issues or lead to system malfunctions, requiring additional repairs.


10. Suspension and Steering Components
    
    In an effort to lighten the vehicle and offer smoother and compliant ride quality a lot of manufacturers have been using lightweight materials and synthetic rubber compounds.  Due to the subpar material strength, durability coupled with faulty designs owners have been reporting more frequent suspension system faults and repairs.  The most common signs of a faulty steering or suspension component include noisy suspension, premature tire wear, or shacky and unstable steering.

While newer cars come with the latest technology and better fuel efficiency, these reliability issues can cause significant inconvenience and repair costs. However, not all cars are created equal, it is highly advised that you research the year, make and model of vehicle you intent to purchase before committing to the purchase. Real vehicle owner reviews can be an invaluable source of information.  To help avoid expensive repair bills, perform regular care and maintenance to reduce the chance of future problems.