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It is no overstatement that car repair costs have gotten out of hand. Earlier this week we learned that choosing an aftermarket part over an OEM part makes good financial sense in some cases despite the prevailing consensus that when it comes to repairs, sticking with OEM over non-OEM parts is the recommended way to go.
Why Are Car Repairs So Expensive?
One of the reasons why car repairs are overly expensive is due to the automotive industry is ruining modern cars by manufacturing parts that were once made of metal into cheap plastic gizmos that look more like something inside one of those Sony Walkman’s back in the day.
More specifically, tiny gears made of plastic that are notorious for wearing out and then costing car owners anywhere between one- to two-thousand dollars to have repaired―in labor costs alone when the component replaced is a paltry $50.
A good example of this are the multiple tiny actuator motors you will find throughout many modern cars. An actuator is a plastic box filled with a tiny motor and small plastic gears to “actuate” the opening and closing of air blend doors as part of your HVAC system to route the environmental air for your comfort and convenience.
The crux of the matter, however, is that although the actuator component is relatively cheap, the real cost is having to remove the entire dash of a vehicle in order to get to the HVAC system―all because it was engineered to be that way by engineers who have lost their minds.
However, not all of the blame can be laid on the automotive industry and their engineers. As it turns out, the modern car buyer is also culpable when it comes to the growing over-engineering of today’s car.
The Reality Of Modern Car Repair is an Expensive One....
Why car repairs are so expensive is the theme of a recent Car Care Nut YouTube channel episode where the host takes the time to show viewers that the biggest reason why you have to pay so much for the repair of a new car is due to making cars exceedingly safe and having to fit everything within a modern car’s shrinking internal space.
Related article: Car Makers Got Bad Review Removed by Going After YouTube Sponsors
Follow along with the host as he uses a 2022 Toyota Highlander as an example of the reason why repairs are so high as he tears into disassembling the front end of the vehicle to repair a damaged AC condenser buried inside the engine bay. In the video you will discover:
- How complicated disassembly is in reality.
- More evidence of Toyota using plastic parts rather than metal parts.
- How even an experienced mechanic has trouble disassembling a Toyota.
- You cannot do a disassembly without breaking a component.
- The complexity of correctly charging your AC system with refrigerant.
- Safety system sensors have to be recalibrated with an expensive scan tool when disconnected for disassembly.
Related article: Fake AC Freon Warning for Car Owners
Older Car Models That Are Easier to Repair
If the video above convinces you that you might want to reconsider buying a new model for an older model that is proven to be reliable and much easier to repair, here are a few recent used car articles to guide your used car shopping decision-making:
- 6 Super Reliable Used Cars Under $10,000
- Best Used Cars and SUVs Under $20,000
- Best High-Mileage Used Cars Recommended by Consumer Reports
For additional car repair-related articles, here are three useful ones for your consideration:
- How Auto Parts Hoarding for Toyota and Other Cars Could Become a Thing in 2022
- The New Ford DIY Repair Manual Every Ford Owner Should Have
- Ford Expedition Spark Plug Change You Can DIY
Timothy Boyer is an 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 and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
COMING UP NEXT: Our Daughter's First Car Scam Experience
Image source: Deposit Photos
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