A poll of 2,000 motorists found 61% have had their plans scuppered thanks to a car problem, with one in twenty of those completely missing a loved one’s wedding
A survey of 2,000 drivers revealed that a whopping 61% have had their plans ruined by car troubles, with one in twenty even missing a loved one’s wedding because of it. Other casualties of car issues include cancelled holidays (5%), missed flights (4%) and job interviews (4%).
Family gatherings (11%), day trips (8%) and hospital appointments (6%) also made the list of events missed due to car problems.
The most common culprits causing chaos on the roads are flat tyres or punctures (52%), battery failures (39%), and engine warning lights (28%). It comes after UK households issued warning if they have Nescafé coffee in kitchen.
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Interestingly, the study found that summer is the worst time to experience car trouble, with 30% admitting it’s the season they rely on their vehicle the most.
The research was commissioned by Vixa – a car health assistant from The AA – which has partnered with UK garage talent and So Solid Crew Member Lisa Maffia for their Garage Bangers campaign.
They’ve created a nostalgic summer track ‘Keep it Rollin’ in a car garage, featuring real engine sounds and beats, aiming to highlight how summer car troubles can put a damper on your plans.
Matt Barker from the brand, said: “With summer upon us, many of us depend on our cars to enjoy holidays, share day trips or head to important events. Sometimes problems seem to come out of nowhere – leading to disappointment and frustration from drivers and passengers alike.
“Use of a car health assistant and regular maintenance checks can help you to stay on top of things and alert you to potential issues. There are some simple checks we can do to ensure our car is in the best possible shape. And hopefully the lyrics to this track will help people to remember what to do.”
The study also found a quarter of motorists have declined an invitation or travel plan simply because they didn’t trust their vehicle to complete the journey. Of those hit by car troubles, 20% blamed it on trying to ‘make do’ with ageing vehicles.
However, 18% confessed they lack understanding about car maintenance – and frequently ignore unusual sounds from their motor which has subsequently led to disrupted plans.
Regarding the summer months particularly, more than one in 10 experienced overheating engines, whilst 9% confessed to enduring a complete tyre blowout.
Overall, these incidents left nearly half feeling frustrated (49%) and stressed (46%). With one in seven (14%) left embarrassed – and the same proportion felt guilty for disappointing others according to the OnePoll.com data.
Yet whilst 40% attempt to monitor their car’s condition – they do occasionally overlook things. The survey reveals that 30% of Brits would head to a garage for even minor car issues, while a quarter (26%) would attempt to fix it themselves.
Matt Barker from Vixa commented: “From missed holidays to disrupted weddings, summer car trouble can throw a real spanner in the works.
“Garage Bangers brings that message to life in a fun and relatable way. It’s all about helping people enjoy the moments that matter – and making sure car trouble doesn’t get in the way.”