A vehicle breakdown is a mechanical or electrical failure of a motor vehicle in such a way that the underlying problem prevents the vehicle from being operated or impedes the vehicle's operation so significantly that it is very difficult, nearly impossible, or else dangerous to operate.[1]
Vehicle breakdowns have various causes. Depending on the severity, the vehicle may need to be towed to an automobile repair shop or fixed on-site by roadside assistance or a mobile mechanic. With other problems, the driver may be able to operate the vehicle seemingly normally for some time, but the vehicle will need an eventual repair. Many vehicle owners with personal economic difficulty or a busy schedule may wait longer than they should to get necessary maintenance or repairs made to their vehicles, thereby increasing their chances of a breakdown, inducing further damage to the vehicle, or else causing more danger.[2]
There are various levels of a vehicle's disability:
Total Breakdownedit
A total breakdown is when the vehicle becomes totally immobile and cannot be driven even a short distance, thereby necessitating a tow to an auto mechanic, or an on-site repair from roadside assistance or a mobile technician.
Partial Breakdownedit
In a partial breakdown, the vehicle may still be operable, but its operation may become more limited or more dangerous, or else its continued operation may contribute to further damage to the vehicle. When this occurs, it may be possible to drive the vehicle to a repair shop or a safer location for a mobile repair, thereby avoiding a tow.
Causesedit
In 2014, The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) attended almost two million breakdowns in the United Kingdom. Battery problems were the most common cause of a car breakdown, accounting for more than 450,000 call-outs.
Top 10 Causesedit
Battery
Wheel change
Fuel
Mechanical problems
Puncture (no spare)
Electrical problems
Charging electric vehicles
Clutch
Ignition
Cooling, heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Contributing Factorsedit
Roadside assistance data collected, analyzed and published by AAA provides the following statistical insights into vehicle breakdowns in the United States and Canada:
Ageedit
Vehicles ten years and older are twice as likely to end up immobilized on the side of the road compared to newer vehicles, and the odds of needing a tow quadruples.[3]
Vehicles fewer than five years old have a higher proportion of tire, key and fuel-related issues than older vehicles.[4]
One in five service calls for a newer vehicle required a tow to a repair facility.[4]
Vehicles between six and ten years old have the highest proportion of battery-related issues, as most batteries have a three-to-five-year life.[4]
Maintenanceedit
Millions of roadside breakdowns each year could be prevented with basic vehicle maintenance.[2]
35 percent of Americans have skipped or delayed service or repairs that were recommended by a mechanic or specified by the factory maintenance schedule.[2]
Regionedit
Drivers in the West experienced the most breakdowns, followed by the South, the Northeast and the Midwest.[4]
Seasonedit
Roadside assistance calls peak in the summer (8.3 million) followed by winter (8.1 million), fall (7.8 million) and spring (7.7 million).[4]
Coverageedit
When a breakdown occurs, the motorist may be able to have the tow and/or repair covered by a third party:
Factory Warrantyedit
A vehicle manufacturer's warranty often covers the repair and subsequent towing expense if the root cause of the repair is deemed warrantable and is repaired at a certified dealership.
Extended Warranty/Service Contractedit
A service contract is a type of extended warranty (although may not be legally considered a true warranty) that is typically available for purchase at the time of the vehicle sale and usually includes roadside assistance.
Insuranceedit
An auto insurance policy provides liability coverage for any damage caused by a vehicle, however, some comprehensive policies also cover repairs, roadside assistance services, tow and rental expenses.
Roadside Assistanceedit
A roadside assistance plan may be available for purchase through club membership or in some cases, as an add-on service from another subscription, such as a mobile phone.
^"Breakdown Definition: 529 Samples". Law Insider. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
^ abcEdmonds, Ellen (2015-10-08). "Roadside Breakdowns Preventable with Proper Maintenance, Finds AAA". AAA Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
^Edmonds, Ellen (2018-04-17). "Double Digits Means Double Trouble for Vehicle Breakdowns". AAA Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
^ abcdeEdmonds, Ellen (2016-07-20). "Despite Vehicle Advances, Break Downs at Record High". AAA Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
External linksedit
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Automobile Repair
December 20, 2023
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A vehicle breakdown is a mechanical or electrical failure of a motor vehicle in such a way that the underlying problem prevents the vehicle from being operated or impedes the vehicle s operation so significantly that it is very difficult nearly impossible or else dangerous to operate 1 An overheated Vauxhall Carlton stopped on Tottenham Court Road LondonA broken down Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Newport Isle of WightA broken down Ford Crown Victoria in New York city in 2009Vehicle breakdowns have various causes Depending on the severity the vehicle may need to be towed to an automobile repair shop or fixed on site by roadside assistance or a mobile mechanic With other problems the driver may be able to operate the vehicle seemingly normally for some time but the vehicle will need an eventual repair Many vehicle owners with personal economic difficulty or a busy schedule may wait longer than they should to get necessary maintenance or repairs made to their vehicles thereby increasing their chances of a breakdown inducing further damage to the vehicle or else causing more danger 2 Contents 1 Severity 1 1 Total Breakdown 1 2 Partial Breakdown 2 Causes 2 1 Top 10 Causes 3 Contributing Factors 3 1 Age 3 2 Maintenance 3 3 Region 3 4 Season 4 Coverage 4 1 Factory Warranty 4 2 Extended Warranty Service Contract 4 3 Insurance 4 4 Roadside Assistance 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksSeverity editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message There are various levels of a vehicle s disability Total Breakdown edit A total breakdown is when the vehicle becomes totally immobile and cannot be driven even a short distance thereby necessitating a tow to an auto mechanic or an on site repair from roadside assistance or a mobile technician Partial Breakdown edit In a partial breakdown the vehicle may still be operable but its operation may become more limited or more dangerous or else its continued operation may contribute to further damage to the vehicle When this occurs it may be possible to drive the vehicle to a repair shop or a safer location for a mobile repair thereby avoiding a tow Causes editIn 2014 The Royal Automobile Club RAC attended almost two million breakdowns in the United Kingdom Battery problems were the most common cause of a car breakdown accounting for more than 450 000 call outs Top 10 Causes edit Battery Wheel change Fuel Mechanical problems Puncture no spare Electrical problems Charging electric vehicles Clutch Ignition Cooling heating ventilation and air conditioningContributing Factors editRoadside assistance data collected analyzed and published by AAA provides the following statistical insights into vehicle breakdowns in the United States and Canada Age edit Vehicles ten years and older are twice as likely to end up immobilized on the side of the road compared to newer vehicles and the odds of needing a tow quadruples 3 Vehicles fewer than five years old have a higher proportion of tire key and fuel related issues than older vehicles 4 One in five service calls for a newer vehicle required a tow to a repair facility 4 Vehicles between six and ten years old have the highest proportion of battery related issues as most batteries have a three to five year life 4 Maintenance edit Millions of roadside breakdowns each year could be prevented with basic vehicle maintenance 2 35 percent of Americans have skipped or delayed service or repairs that were recommended by a mechanic or specified by the factory maintenance schedule 2 Region edit Drivers in the West experienced the most breakdowns followed by the South the Northeast and the Midwest 4 Season edit Roadside assistance calls peak in the summer 8 3 million followed by winter 8 1 million fall 7 8 million and spring 7 7 million 4 Coverage editWhen a breakdown occurs the motorist may be able to have the tow and or repair covered by a third party Factory Warranty edit A vehicle manufacturer s warranty often covers the repair and subsequent towing expense if the root cause of the repair is deemed warrantable and is repaired at a certified dealership Extended Warranty Service Contract edit A service contract is a type of extended warranty although may not be legally considered a true warranty that is typically available for purchase at the time of the vehicle sale and usually includes roadside assistance Insurance edit An auto insurance policy provides liability coverage for any damage caused by a vehicle however some comprehensive policies also cover repairs roadside assistance services tow and rental expenses Roadside Assistance edit A roadside assistance plan may be available for purchase through club membership or in some cases as an add on service from another subscription such as a mobile phone See also editAutomobile repair shop Mobile mechanic Roadside assistance Tow truck Car insurance Car warranty Extended warrantyReferences edit Breakdown Definition 529 Samples Law Insider Retrieved 2022 11 23 a b c Edmonds Ellen 2015 10 08 Roadside Breakdowns Preventable with Proper Maintenance Finds AAA AAA Newsroom Retrieved 2022 11 21 Edmonds Ellen 2018 04 17 Double Digits Means Double Trouble for Vehicle Breakdowns AAA Newsroom Retrieved 2022 11 21 a b c d e Edmonds Ellen 2016 07 20 Despite Vehicle Advances Break Downs at Record High AAA Newsroom Retrieved 2022 11 21 External links edit nbsp Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Automobile Repair Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Breakdown vehicle amp oldid 1185990216, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
