AAA Report Flat Tires, Lockouts, And Bad Batteries Lead Breakdowns To An All Time High

What's driving this is people who drive their cars like appliances never checking anything. I am amazed at the number of people who cannot change a tire or who are unable to check tire pressure or oil levels. People are lazy about their cars and their laziness pays off in breakdowns of minor scale.

@MD: What does being lazy have anything to do with flat tires, or bad batteries ? you are off your meds again.

Exactly - It can be argued that the majority of these three causes could be prevented by simply paying attention to the details of what you are doing and to what you are driving.

@HenryN Lazy people put gas in their cars and drive until something goes wrong. Do they check their batteries? NO. Do they check tire pressure? NO. Do they rotate their tires? NO. Do they check their oil? NO. Do they change their oil? NO. Do they change their air filter? NO. Do they replace their wipers? NO. Are you really that dumb? NO.

@MDarringer you are absolutely correct, best example is my daughter. I love her but she doesn't have a clue about cars and being that she is away in college I cannot help her at all. Her boyfriend? The same, good guy (working on a PhD)but he is a dumbass with cars. I try to take care of all the maintenance for her MINI when she comes and visits. Lots of people drive cars like appliances, that is why they love TOYOTAS, LoL!

@USNA1999 It was in my best interest to make sure my mother's station wagon ran, so I learned at a young age how to keep cars going. My first car was a Mustang Grande that really belonged in the scrapyard, but I kept it running through regular attention.

At the dealer level, we've seen cars towed in for minor issues. Believe it or not there are people who can't change a tire and instead of letting the tow truck guy change it, they have the car brought to the dealer. We charge them and yet it would have been free by the side of the road.

Most manufacturers track mileage of new cars to send suggested maintenance reminders.

Some brands are more on top of maintenance reminders than others.

While some of you are justifiably take pride in personally taking care of your car, many people don't need to do this task themselves. Let me debunk your claims that every driver has to be a grease monkey ...

Modern cars are designed to take away most of the burden from the owner (hence an appliance reference) by requiring periodic maintenance service by qualified service centers (dealers or qualified shops). They have those pesky warning lights to remind you when such times come. They also have a plethora of sensors and monitors to ensure that you don't miss the vital signs such as tire pressure (with TPMS), battery voltages, oil pressure/temp,... If you continue to ignore those signs, it's more than just being lazy, it's gross neglect - and the car manufactures would know and likely refuse warranty services in those cases.

For locking out with key inside, it's probably for older cars. It's nearly impossible to lock yourself out of your modern keyless car, and there are phone apps that you can unlock it if you misplace your key. I have a Ford Focus EV, a very cheap car with keyless entry and keyless start. I have tried but could never lock myself out, and the phone app can unlock it in an instant.

As for tire damage, I understand some people neglect the conditions of their tire. But I think those are the exceptions rather than the rule. Most maintenance services/oil changes include tire inspection and rotation, inflating the tires to specs, ... there is no need to do it yourself. I don't know the statistics of tire damages, but all my 3 flat tires happened on the same 2009 Honda Odyssey, each time with a full-tread tire and a large nail in the middle of it. Not sure how to avoid those flats.

I am one of those who rarely look under the hood, although I do kick the tires once in a while. If you have a Porsche there is not much for you to do or to look at under the hood. You're better off having the dealer do it for you, especially if it's required maintenance or electronic issues. I do often wash the car to appreciate the design (less often now with the CA drought going on), and drive it hard to appreciate its performance but will pass the oil change to a specialist.

@HenryN You are a compete and unmitigated idiot. You're actually defending being a lazy irresponsible car owner. Wow.

Most batteries have indicators that give lots of warning you are getting into trouble. If you checked monthly you should know.

Most tire failures are typically not paying attention to tire pressure or wear and sometimes road conditions. If the road is full of potholes then drive slower, speed bumps are meant for you to drive over slowly not at 20 mph. Who inspects their tires lately? I handwash my vehicles and tires are inspected weekly for sidewall issues, tread and nails.

Lockout? well you either lost the keys or locked them in the car. Both cases are driver error.

The dimwits that this happens to never look under the hood.

Where I live and where my father lives even more so, people experience tires that de-tread themselves due to high ambient heat, superheated roads--asphalt especially--and people running soft tires which causes the tires to run at temperatures higher than they were designed for.

If these are the issues drivers are having then we have come a long long way. Gone are days where you see engine smoke, radiator leaks, transmission failures or the old muffler dropped in the middle of the road.

Take note that batteries, tire and lockout issues have always existed. This is nothing new.

At least two things that have been overlooked here contribute to the problem

1 - At least some of the response to Flat Tires is due to the fact that many cars today do not have spare tires. With the exception of some slow punctures - that fix-a-flat can will do nothing to help. Any real tire damage will require a tow - and a new tire. In the past - you mounted your spare - and went on your way - and even with temporary spares - you avoided the cost of the tow.

2 - At least some states no longer have car inspections. In the past - mechanics could depend on seeing cars to be checked just before their inspection was due - and things like tires, lamps, wipers - etc - would end up on the bill with the "tune-up". In New Jersey - the inspection is ONLY for emissions - and they only check through the OBDII circuit - plus checking the all important Gas CAP!. They no longer even check the wipers or the turn signals. Some states do still have more comprehensive inspections - but others have none at all

#1 You can usually buy a kit to put a spare back in the trunk.

#2 If you're doing regular checking and regular maintenance, you do not need a state inspection.

Most dealers offer advantageous prices on oil changes purposefully to get a look at cars so as to keep customers happy. Most dealer oil changes involve close inspections of vehicles with a written report to the customer.

Matt - My point was that for many people - the first time they learn that their car does not have a spare tire is the first time they have a flat. While some cars do offer a kit - it is NOT offered on a lot of high priced sports sedans that also have no additional trunk space for a spare.

And - I agree that most people should do regular maintenance - but they don't. You and I both know that one too. However - state inspection was a requirement that forced them into it. And for most car owners - they do not return to their dealer or any dealer for service - for price considerations. A $300 oil change is outrageous to me - and should be to you.

@TomM The reality is that many brands have free service under warranty. If you're paying $300 ONLY for an oil change then change dealers. However if that "oil change" also includes diagnostics and other maintenance work that it performed at the same time as the oil change then it is not just an oil change.