Top reason Americans don’t take their cars in for repairs revealed – as drivers admit leaving the problem for up to 18 months

CAR repair experts asked drivers how long they ignore an important light appearing on the dashboard.

The results may not shock most U.S. drivers.

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Americans admit to ignoring the “check engine” light for an average of four months before addressing it, according to a new survey.

The survey was a random double opt-in sent to American car owners aged 25 and over between March 29 and April 8, 2024.

The results revealed that one in five (20 percent) admits delaying between six and 18 months.

This could be because almost a third (32 percent) will wait “as long as possible” before taking their car in for repairs.

Another 39 percent will likely wait for an incident or for something to break before they even consider taking their car in for service.

The survey also revealed that 35 percent regret putting off car care – resulting in unexpected repair fees (39 percent), emotional stress (22 percent) and even a roadside emergency (21 percent).

And while the average American feels preventative car care is important (93 percent), nearly half (48 percent) said they put off maintaining their car due to financial constraints.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Pep Boysdata has shown that when it comes to car care, Americans are prioritizing some things over others.

Some respondents will immediately fix problems with exterior lights (11 percent) and cracks in windows and windshields (9 percent), while the radio or sound system (3 percent) is at the bottom of the list.

Americans have had their current car for an average of seven years and 93 percent own their car, compared to renting (7 percent).

Each year, the average respondent spends more than $400 on car maintenance ($438) and estimates that they have spent an astonishing total of $6,272 on maintaining their current car over the years.

To maintain their car, Americans are more likely to go to a dealership (31%) or a local mechanic (27%), and the majority (62%) do so every three to six months.

When it comes to their other responsibilities, 38 percent of respondents said taking care of their car is a “very high” priority.

Despite this, 21% feel that their car will break down at any moment.

When asked what would cause the most stress if repairs were needed, engine problems (66%), bad brakes (33%) and fuel system problems (31%) ranked as the top three.

Which car repairs stress drivers the most?

• Engine: 66 percent
• Brakes: 33 percent
• Fuel system – 31 percent
• Tires – 15 percent
• Air conditioning/heating: 15 percent

Source: OnePoll

Almost 30 percent admit that their car stresses them out more than their finances or even personal relationships (14 percent).

Despite these concerns, only 32 percent of respondents would like to live in a place where a car is not necessary,

On the contrary, more than half (65 percent) do not believe life would be easier without one – an indicator of how important they are in our lives.