{"id":4431,"date":"2020-05-29T18:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T18:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carexamer.com\/blog\/?p=4431"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:13:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:13:51","slug":"most-common-breakdown-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carexamer.com\/blog\/most-common-breakdown-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Common Car Breakdown Causes in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car Breakdown are never a good thing and understanding the most common causes is one of the smartest possible ways you can protect yourself from them happening to you. Cars are massively complicated machines at the best of times, and things can always go wrong no matter what the vehicle. Identifying the common areas like these is just one of the many things that you can do to make yourself as prepared as can be, and they all have the potential to happen to the best of us. Let’s have a look on most common car breakdown causes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battery Issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Car batteries are a tough thing to manage<\/a>. Although there are good practises to make sure you’re looking after them, that’s not always enough. There can even be problems that you never knew existed if you’re not sure what to look for. All of that adds up to making them one of the most common car breakdown causes in the UK, and sadly, very few ways to tell if and when it\u2019s going to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best way to keep your battery in good health is to make sure that it\u2019s getting used. Your alternator will charge your battery just by running your engine, so do this if you need to leave your car standing<\/a> at all or you\u2019re not getting too much use. If you do see any warning signs like laboured ignition, electrical issues, and anything else electrical that seems like the battery could be struggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oil Issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite being one of the biggest essentials of how cars\nactually work, another massive cause of breakdowns in the UK comes from oil\nissues too. Your car will run low on it from time to time and when that\nhappens, you stand a much higher chance of running into trouble. That\u2019s where\nthings like seizing engines take place and it can be a huge problem for your\ncar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To prevent it from happening, all you need to do here is\nkeep it checked regularly. Check every month or so if you can to make sure you\nhave enough fluid. Likewise, don\u2019t overfill either as this can cause you\nproblems too, but don\u2019t neglect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overheating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As well as your oil levels needing to be maintained, it’s\nalso a great idea to make sure your vehicles other fluids are in the best shape\npossible too. That comes from your coolant a lot of the time (as well as your\nantifreeze in winter). Without it, your car can easily have massive problems\nthat can take your car off the road completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Preventing this breakdown cause just like above. You need to check the levels often and thoroughly. Things will dry up, so top them up as and when you need to do so. It\u2019s never a bad thing to be careful and it can save you a world of trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyre and Wheel Issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another easy problem to find yourself in a breakdown\nsituation with is your wheel or tyre situation. It\u2019s far too easy for them to\ngo wrong on you and leave you at the roadside unable to move again safely.\nWhether it\u2019s a puncture a buckle, or anything else that can happen, it\u2019s\nseriously bad news and a real danger too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost is to check your tyres regularly<\/a>. Don’t drive on bald or cracked tyres and get them changed as and when you need to. They do not last forever and need to be changed more often than any other part of your vehicle. Don\u2019t chance it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrong Fuels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This one comes down solely to you as an individual, and usually, when you\u2019re driving a new car or something that you are not sued to. It\u2019s an accident waiting to happen and putting the wrong kind of fuel in your car has massive repercussions if do it. Make sure you pull over and call for help to get your fuel emptied and refilled correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Preventing this common breakdown cause just comes down to\nyou remembering what you need to do. Concentrate on getting this right,\nespecially when you\u2019re driving a new vehicle. It can happen to the best of us,\nbut that doesn\u2019t make it any less embarrassing when it does happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clutches and Cambelts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, if you drive a manual vehicle, your clutch is\nanother common problem area if you don\u2019t keep on top of it. Believe it or not,\nyour clutch is actually capable of snapping when it gets too worn down and that\ncan mean really bad news for your gears. Likewise, your cambelt is too if you\nhave been racking up the miles or your car is getting a few years under its\nbelt (sorry).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you feel any problems when using your clutch, and\nweakness or even any grinding or squeaking when using it, get it looked it. The\nsame goes for your cambelt too. It could be a range of issues but if it\u2019s your clutch\non its way out then it can be an expensive fix. Keep on top of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, just about all causes of breakdowns are avoidable if you know what to look for. They are all things that need to be kept on top of but are also extremely easy to miss if you\u2019re not sure what they are in the first place or that they need to be checked. On top of that, accidents can still happen too. Do your best to keep yourself prepared and do what you can to look after your car. To prevent problems when buying a used car – obtain a professional\u00a0pre purchase car inspection<\/a>. Happy driving!<\/p>\n\n\n\n