Most Common Car Malfunctions That Lead to Accidents

Car crashes are very common and could lead to serious injuries or sometimes they can even be fatal. Car accidents happen for different reasons, such as reckless driving or car malfunctions. Although modern vehicles are made to follow more safety standards, accidents that are caused by mechanical failure still occur. But what are the most common car malfunctions that lead to accidents? Let’s find out.

Faulty Brakes 

Rear-end collisions are mostly caused by bad brakes, where drivers fail to stop on time and ram into the car in front of them. In fact 22% of accidents that cite mechanical failure as the culprit were because of faulty brakes.

Three factors contribute to brakes failing. The first factor is worn brake lines that lead to a leak in the brakes. The first sign of a leak in brake lines is a warning light on the dashboard, or you might feel the brake pedal has become very soft which is another indicator of a leak in the brake line. 

The second factor is the ABS malfunction. ABS stands for the antilock brake system which is designed to keep brakes from locking in an emergency braking situation as a way to prevent slipping and loss of control. 

ABS sensors can get contaminated with debris, which might trigger it when it shouldn’t and might not be triggered when they should be working. The third factor is worn out pads and discs, brake pads and discs get worn out from use. So the more you use it the more they stop being as effective as they were, which increases stop distances, and increases the risk of having an accident because the car failed to stop on time.

Faulty Tires

Tires are very common among dangerous car malfunctions. 35% of mechanical failures that lead to accidents are caused by tire and wheel problems. For instance, a tire blowing out is the most common among tire problems. Tires could blow out because of a variety of reasons, namely being under or over-inflated and blowing out under pressure.

Another reason is the tire getting punctured because of debris which leads to losing control of the vehicle and having a car accident while you’re driving. A tire being old and worn out is another factor for failures that leads to accidents. Tires should last between 25,000 to 50,000 miles but then they have to be replaced, so always make sure to inspect your tires regularly to avoid any issues from happening while you are on the road.

Faulty Headlights and Taillights 

Driving at night is always riskier because of a decrease in our ability to see at night, due to our depth perception, peripheral vision, and distinguishing color getting diminished. Accidents are more likely to happen at night, even if your car is fully functional. That means that if the headlights or taillights of a car aren’t working, then the chance of getting into an accident double. 

For instance, if you are in a roundabout and another motorist couldn’t see you because your headlights aren’t working, then they are more likely to collide with you. On the other hand, taillights are important even in daylight hours, because if they are faulty you won’t be able to signal other motorists that you stopped your car, which may lead to cars ramming into yours. Therefore, you must always check if your lights are working and if they are not then quickly replace them. 

Problem With Steering and Suspension

This problem is usually hard to identify after a crash, but they are one of the common reasons for mechanical failures that leads to accidents, and they are one of the most dangerous. Steering and suspensions are what allows drivers to have more control over their vehicle, but when that system fails it almost always leads to tragic accidents.

Suspension and steering usually take time to wear out, however, constant maintenance will allow you to detect and repair any faults. A clear sign that there is a problem with your suspension is if you felt your car jumping on bumpy roads or you are having difficulty steering your car. Therefore, regular inspection and suspension maintenance could help you detect and repair any issue that arises. 

Unfortunately, car accidents have been happening since they were invented and they caused all kinds of injuries to total fatalities. Although modern vehicles are becoming safer with the advancement of technology, they remain machines that could malfunction and be the reason for a tragedy. We recommend regular inspection and maintenance to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive. 

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