Features You Will Want to Avoid in Your Car Purchase Warning

New car features are supposed to be those extra design or performance add-on’s that make a new vehicle more attractive to car shoppers either due to their novelty or actual usefulness.

However, throughout automotive history there have been car features that seemed like a good idea at the time…but were not. In fact, some new features have in practice actually been dangerous to the driver as warned by this mechanic.

For the most part, though, new car features have increased the safety of cars---especially those designed as popular active safety systems to avoid or at least lessen the incidence of collisions between cars, cars and pedestrians or cyclists, or cars and stationary objects such as those annoying parking lot barriers that are often just below the visual field of a driver checking his or her rearview mirror while backing their vehicle.

And sometimes, new car features are hidden and a nice surprise for when a car owner discovers one that they were not previously aware of but make life a little bit easier for the car owner who can take advantage of it. Or, avoid having to seek a mechanic for a repair that car owners can do themselves such as this Toyota RAV4 DIY fix that can save an owner hundreds of dollars.

Related articles: Engine Removal, Without Removing the Hood on That GM

New Car Features that Will Cost You Later

In a recent Car Wizard YouTube channel episode, the host of the video alerts viewers to seven car features that in his experience are not worth having as they often eventually lead to problems for owners that cost them more money and lost time getting a fix or repair done. According to the Car Wizard these are, “…features that will put a serious dent in your wallet if you buy one.”

The following is a summary of those features. For more additional details and information about what makes these features so bad, watch the relevant video posted afterward.

1. The EyeSight feature in Subaru cars---This is a problematic module prone to failure that is a costly problem in that not only is the replacement part expensive, but it also requires a dealership to recalibrate the feature for safety and warranty protection. Your trusted mechanic may not want to touch the liability issues with this repair.

2. Chrysler Displacement on Demand or the GM Active Fuel Management System---Failures in these features are engine killers as discussed earlier with this list of affected vehicles you will want to know about.

3. Battery Health Level on EVs---The problem with this feature is that it is not accurate and can mislead not only owners regarding how much life remains in their EV battery, but can also mislead shoppers looking for a used EV.

4. Mazda’s with a Rotary Engine---Few and far between in comparison to non-Rotary engine cars make this an expensive repair, IF you can even find a garage that will do the work, which will in all likelihood be prohibitively expensive.

5. EV’s with All-Inclusive Screen control---Predicted to become a major headache in the near future for EV car owners, these screens control all features and functions of the car. When the screen goes out, so does your vehicle. Expect repairs to cost in the thousands when problems develop.

6. App-Based Features---Something all of us can identify with: apps that are no longer supported leaving you with a dead or less functional device. Think of all of those past Apple Macs that still turn on but are useless.

7. Subscription-Based Features---Automakers love the idea of charging car owners continually on a monthly basis with subscription services. See this article on why you do not own that Tesla in reality.

NEVER buy a car with these features according to the 20+ years of CAR WIZARD mechanic experience!

Timothy Boyer is Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle-related news.

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