Alternators, batteries, coil springs and water pumps were the most common car repairs.

The statistics are revealed by the Warranty Solutions Group (WSG).

It analysed 44 manufacturers, identifying the top three most common faults and average repair costs based on its 2022/2023 warranty claims data on vehicles aged 3-8 years old.

And another thing

Alternators – 12%,  batteries – 6%, coil springs – 6%,  and water pumps – 4%, were the most common failures.

Alternator failures were caused by use-related wear, and stop/start technology adding strain to electrical systems.

Of all electrical failures, alternators made up 21% of all claims paid by WSG last year.

The prime reason for battery claims was the increased demand being placed on electrical systems by such systems as infotainment, advanced safety features and climate control.

Damage caused by potholes and general age-related wear were the main causes of coil spring claims.

Meanwhile, internal bearing failure and seals and gasket failures were the main causes of water pump claims.

Faults per manufacturer

Supply and demand

Shortage of aftermarket parts was the main cause of many of the most expensive repairs.

There were also a number of repairs in the top faults that can only be carried out by main dealers or specialists, subsequently increasing labour costs.

Some repairs also require lengthy stripping processes, resulting in large labour bills.

The analysis also revealed that Volvo owners typically prefer to use a main dealer or specialist for major repairs. This results in increased labour costs.

Most reliable

WSG analysed the 15 most reliable volume manufacturers.

Honda took the top spot as the most reliable with a claim rate of just 4.18% and average claim of £364.89.

While Honda has experienced a similar claim rate for the last two years, cost of their parts has come down.

Battery failures were the most common issue across Honda models, making up 20% of all claims with an average replacement cost of £220.50.

Toyota was the second most reliable with a claim rate of 4.44%, followed by Hyundai (8.36%) in third position.

Martin Binnee, operations director of WSG, says “ build quality has improved significantly across all car manufacturers” and vehicles “have become more reliable”.

“However, rapidly advancing electronics have increased the likelihood of more complicated and expensive faults.

“Smaller independent garages are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with franchised dealers and specialists due to equipment and expertise constraints.

The Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and Toyota Aygo were the three most reliable.

Steph Newbery, WSG’s group marketing director, said: “The Honda Jazz takes the pole position as the most reliable used car – an outstanding achievement for Honda, which was also the most reliable manufacturer in our analysis.

“With an enviable reputation for reliability and longevity, Honda has low claim rates and competitive parts prices, making it a great choice for the budget-conscious buyer.”

Most popular

The Ford Fiesta was the most popular used car in the UK during 2023, according to the SMMT.

Fiesta claims accounted for 2% of WSG’s car warranty claims in 2023, and 16.5% of the total Ford claims. The average claim was £360.07, while the three most common issues were alternators, coil springs and timing belts.

The Vauxhall Corsa was the second most popular model sold through the WSG network.  While the claim rate for all car warranty claims was lower at 3.17%, the Corsa made up almost a quarter of all Vauxhall claims (24.74%).

The third most popular was the VW Golf, which accounted for 2.64% of all car warranty claims.  However, Golf claims made up the largest percentage of manufacturer claims in the top three, accounting for almost a third (31.47%) of all claims across the Volkswagen car range.