Two-thirds of drivers would ignore an oil pressure warning light

A quarter would continue to drive with the coolant warning light on

Two-thirds of drivers would ignore an oil pressure warning light
Photo: Bigstock

Only three in ten (30 percent) of drivers would stop immediately if the oil pressure warning light came on, according to a survey of 12,598 motorists.

Another third (33 percent) said they would drive to a safe place before switching off the engine.

The AA survey also found that one in four (24 percent) of drivers would continue to drive with a coolant temperature warning light on the dashboard, with a further 25 percent saying they would drive until the light came on before checking what it meant.

In 2022, the AA responded to 17,000 callouts where the driver had reported a dashboard warning light. On average, nine out ten of the vehicles were driven away, with the remainder needing nothing more than reassurance on what the light meant.

Faulty brakes a common issue on used cars

In a separate study, the AA revealed that its assessors found at least one fault with 70 percent of the used cars they inspected.

CarDealer reports that brakes were the most common flaw, followed by signs of previous accident damage or repairs, corrosion, clutch faults, and engine or gearbox oil leaks.

During the study, the AA found that 85 percent of used car buyers lift the bonnet when they’re looking at a new car, but around half (45 percent) admit they don’t know what they’re looking at.

The AA list in full

  1. Brake issues
  2. Signs of previous accident damage/repairs
  3. Corrosion
  4. Clutch faults
  5. Oil leaks to engine and gearbox
  6. Timing chain/belt fault noises
  7. Existing body damage
  8. Diagnostic fault codes

AA president, Edmund King, said: “A car is often the second-biggest purchase people make after their home.

“Most people wouldn’t dream of buying a house without a survey – yet many car buyers don’t stop to consider the benefits of a pre-purchase vehicle inspection before parting with thousands of pounds.

“Many of the most common problems vehicle inspectors find during assessments are hard for the average person to spot. Even if drivers carry out some checks themselves, such as looking at the bonnet, many do not know what they’re looking for.“

Source: CarDealer

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