This is the most common problem of used electrics (may surprise)

When thinking about buying a used electric car, you can worry – legitimately – about the state of battery health. But there are many more factors and this does not seem to be the most common problem of these vehicles.

30/07/2026
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News to Minutes

Cover time, the battery of an electric car loses some of its capacity and degrades – although not as markedly as ever thought. However, it's not the biggest cause of trouble in a used electric car.

Second an analysis the insurance company Warrantywise in the United Kingdom, the most frequent failures are common components of modern cars, regardless of the engine – and not in the engine assembly or batteries. First of all, there are the sensors of the electrical system.

Then it comes up the central locking mechanism (also part of the electrical system), with the on-board charger occupying the third position in the cause of failure – first specific electric cars. And, among the five most common reasons, this is the one that leads in terms of average repair cost (exceeds the equivalent of nine thousand euros).

Although the battery of 12/48 volts (also present in cars with combustion engines) is in fifth place on the list of most common faults, the traction battery does not appear in this cast, unlike the suspension system that appears in the fourth post.

Warrantywise underlines: “These conclusions reinforce that several repairs are related to components found in modern vehicles, and not just the specific technology of electric vehicles”.

For traction batteries, although they may fail, they are not among the most common causes of the need for repair from an electric car. Still, repairs can be expensive, on average in pounds equivalent to more than 5,600 euros.

This study was conducted over three years between January 2023 and January 2026, and how many cases were analyzed were not disclosed.

Anthony Diggins, director of insurance management, said: “It’s still a premature phase with respect to electrical vehicle repair data, but some interesting trends are beginning to emerge. Although battery breakdowns sometimes receive the greatest attention, our repair data suggests that they are only part of history. We are seeing a wider range of components related to the electrical system, charging and suspension to need repairs, stressing the importance of understanding general ownership experience rather than focusing on a single component”.

Electric cars in China last less in the hands of the owners

One of the largest automobile markets in the world is China, especially in terms of new energy models – essentially electrified ones. And these last less in the hands of the owners, who keep them between 3 and 5 years.

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