How Old Becoee a Cars Start Having Problems

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How many miles does a typical car last w/o major problems?

• Thread starter JEDI
• Start date Jan 22, 2011

Sep 25, 2001

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• #1

assume you follow the maintenance schedule in your manual (and not the ripoff dealer recommendations).

i deem minor problems as starter, alternator.
major problem = engine, transmission

How many miles does a typical car last w/o major problems?

edit:
cars made this century

Last edited: Jan 23, 2011

• #2

If you do all the maintenance I'd consider any major repair (ie engine or transmission need a full rebuild) before 200,000 miles to be bad.

• #3

I'd agree, 200k for a car built in the last 15 years.

A failure before then is going to be indicative of 1 of 3 things: abusive driving, or manufacturing defect or environmental influence (like a crash or hitting an object in the road). The chances of normal wear causing a failure these days are pretty low for non wear items (engine, transmission, rear-end, etc).

My daily driver is a 1996 and has 160k miles on the original engine, transmission suspension, etc, etc. Runs like a top with no end in site. The car is well cared for by myself.

• #4

Most engines, internal parts, will hold well to 200k easy if there is no design issue and maintaince was done.

The auto trans is a whole other issue. It really depends on how it is used and the temps it is used in. Heat and heavy loads will tear a auto trans up real quick. Auto trans can last 200k or barly make it to 100k depending on factors.

• #5

The guibo joints and center bearing on the driveshaft on my '05 CTS were completely gone at about 105k km.

• #6

for stuff that doesn't require a lift or hoist to fix or replace, 100k easy, 200k if maintained

• #7

I'd say 200-250k. My family has had a bunch of vehicles with 250k miles on them. Although the most impressive one is the 93 dodge cummins, over 350k miles original motor and tranny, no rebuilds. The motor still runs very strong and can tow a 50 ft 5th wheel without any trouble.

• #8

My Fit went 88k with only minor brake issues. I'm up to 45k on my Outback with no problems. I don't plan to chance it once the 100k warranty is up.

• #9

My Fit went 88k with only minor brake issues. I'm up to 45k on my Outback with no problems. I don't plan to chance it once the 100k warranty is up.

So, you finance another new car for 30k and lose 15k the first two years in depreciation... 15k could cover whatever repair cost you may have.

• #10

Yeah 200 - 250k should be expected from any vehicle. My 1999 Camry has 209,000 on it, also with no end in sight. A few minor issues have arisen... the blower fan only works on two speeds, and the driver window has worn out to the point of not going up all the way anymore on the first try. All fixable, but stuff im just living with right now. Car runs like a top otherwise.

Just put brand new tires on it, and have no doubt i will probably need at least another set before it dies or i sell it.

• #11

So, you finance another new car for 30k and lose 15k the first two years in depreciation... 15k could cover whatever repair cost you may have.

I drive 30k annually, and trade in the car before the 100k extended warranty is up.

• #12

I drive 30k annually, and trade in the car before the 100k extended warranty is up.

It's your money.

• #13

Yup. I plan to have a car payment until the day I die. There are several reasons I get a new car every two and half to three years: mechanical reliability, rust, new safety features.

We do have just a single car between us though. And when we move closer to work, I will switch from buying to leasing. That should cut my payment by a third.

• #14

My 1998 Acura 3.5 RL is still working fine after 165K miles. It did need routine maintenance to get that far such as timing belt, water pump, and I have a pretty heavy foot.

• #15

Yeah 200 - 250k should be expected from any vehicle. My 1999 Camry has 209,000 on it, also with no end in sight. A few minor issues have arisen... the blower fan only works on two speeds, and the driver window has worn out to the point of not going up all the way anymore on the first try. All fixable, but stuff im just living with right now. Car runs like a top otherwise.

Just put brand new tires on it, and have no doubt i will probably need at least another set before it dies or i sell it.

My old '99 camry had the driver's side window do the exact same thing until it completely failed and wouldn't go up the last 2 inches. I swapped out the regulator myself with a friend and it was a PAIN. Doable at home, it doesn't require any special tools, but you're going to need a second person to help you remove and support the glass.

Jul 15, 2003

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• #16

Question does not have an answer.

What year? Many cars made in the 70's/80's are shit and they fell apart long before 100 thousand.
What brand/model? For a long time European cars have been much better than American. And Japanese cars are usually in between. But some specific brands are much different from their national norm. And some models within particular brands were much better or worse than their brothers.

As for me: 2003 Chevy S-10. Piece of shit. Needed all kinds of work around the 30 thousand mark. I dont doubt the engine will go to half a million miles, but the body will probably be falling apart by 100K. Every time I turn around it needs more work. As of this past year I have spent as much on a mechanic as half the purchase price of the vehicle (16 grand). And the super duper gold plus service plan never covered anything in 4 years.
Just noticed a problem this past week on the ice that I never noticed. In fact I may need to make a thread on it cuz no one else ever talks about the issue.

Never buying another GM product. If the engine lasts forever and the body dies quickly I did not get my money worth.

My dads 91 Toyota pickup has 300,000 on it, according to my cousin Alisha. She got it when he died. And unlike most females she takes good care of it.

Jul 3, 2003

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• #17

Man, I haven't had a car payment in a few years. I only have 95,000 miles on my car and plan to keep it for a couple more years at least. Nothing major has gone wrong with it so far, it is a 2003 Maxima.

• #18

Never buying another GM product.

Psh, your loss. My friend has an S10 that has had the living shit beat out of it, and it still runs up and down the hills in NH fine.

Sep 25, 2001

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• #19

Question does not have an answer.

What year? Many cars made in the 70's/80's are shit and they fell apart long before 100 thousand.
What brand/model? For a long time European cars have been much better than American. And Japanese cars are usually in between. But some specific brands are much different from their national norm. And some models within particular brands were much better or worse than their brothers.

updated op to say cars made this century.

my car is a mazda3 made in japan and shipped to the usa. the mazda6 is made in the usa.
i expect the mazda3 to last longer than the mazda6

Jul 15, 2003

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• #20

Psh, your loss. My friend has an S10 that has had the living shit beat out of it, and it still runs up and down the hills in NH fine.

It was my loss when I bought it.

You're friend wanna switch cars?

• #21

I am just afraid of the Auto Tranny, I change the fluid in 30k mile intervals. But I am thinking I should save up and add a bigger cooler for it. And an Inline filter since my tranny only has a screen

Oct 18, 2009

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• #22

200K is reasonable for any vehicle these days with a bare minimum of maintenance.

Our '02 Blazer has 230K on it......outside a new cat. converter, alternator, and fuel pump, it's been trouble free. But all the aforementioned problems started after hitting 180K, so those parts did last quite a while. It still runs great, tows like a champ, and have no intentions of retiring it anytime soon.

Lack of car payments for 5 years=$$ in the bank.....so much so that we could reasonably replace both the transmission and engine and still be far, far ahead of someone who just has to have payments all the time.

• #23

problem is every car within each model can vary along with driving habits. i've seen catalyc converters go bad within 3 miles of taking it off the lot brand new! it was a dodge though...thats why

• #24

So, you finance another new car for 30k and lose 15k the first two years in depreciation... 15k could cover whatever repair cost you may have.

what year is this? I haven't seen cars depreciate that fast in a while

• #25

what year is this? I haven't seen cars depreciate that fast in a while

90s domestics

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How Old Becoee a Cars Start Having Problems

Source: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/how-many-miles-does-a-typical-car-last-w-o-major-problems.2137511/

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