16% of cars break down in first year

Despite sophisticated engine management systems, new cars are continuing to let their owners down in huge numbers

Despite sophisticated engine management systems, new cars are continuing to let their owners down in huge numbers. By the end of 2005, more than 16 per cent of 05-registered cars will have required breakdown assistance, according to the AA.

Of the 79,000 rescue call-outs handled by the AA from January to August of this year, almost 4,500 were for brand new cars. In the same eight-month period, over 158,000 new cars had been driven out of showrooms.

According to the AA's Conor Faughnan: "Motorists must remember that just because a car is new, it doesn't mean it will not break down. Our experience tells us that new cars are as likely to break down as older models, in the same numbers and for the same reasons."

While human error, such as accidents, losing keys or leaving lights on, led to 50 per cent of all new car breakdowns this year, the remaining 50 per cent were all down to faults with the car.

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Electrical problems accounted for the vast majority of these. Indeed, the reason for many new cars breaking down stems from their increasing reliance on computers and sophisticated wiring systems - a finding that was confirmed by the Allegemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC), Germany's equivalent of the AA, which found that almost 50 per cent of its call-outs are for electrical, rather than mechanical problems.

"The proportion of problems due to electronics failure is rising," said ADAC service chief, Helmut Schmaler. "New cars are supplied with a very high specification of electronic equipment. Therefore, the potential for electrical problems is greater. What isn't there can't go wrong."

However, it is not just electrical problems that are causing frustrations for new car drivers.

Steering, suspension and braking systems between them accounted for over 700 cases so far this year. Locks, alarms and ignition problems affected 440 new cars, while fuel and transmission problems between them accounted for another 600.