Top Common Auto and RV Repairs

12/6/2022 – Good Sam

Gain peace of mind when you know what repairs you’re most likely to face with your auto or RV. Common repairs affect us all. But many issues relate to routine maintenance, and you can take steps to protect yourself against major, costly repairs.

From preventive maintenance to mechanical coverage, know how to prevent and protect yourself from common auto and RV repairs.

Auto Repairs

Depending on the age and reliability of your daily driver, you have a pretty good idea of the common repairs most vehicles see year over year. These are the unfortunate but inevitable repair expenses we all face. These are some of the most common for autos.

Routine Maintenance

The most common service/repairs automobiles receive fall into the routine maintenance category. More often than not, drivers take their vehicles to the service shop or the dealership to receive oil changes and tire rotations, not transmission assembly work or engine block assembly replacement. Routine maintenance includes:

• Oil changes and oil filter replacement
• Windshield wipers replacement
• Headlights, turn signals, emergency brake lights
• Air filter replacement

Tires

Not only are tire repairs common due to wear and tear, but your vehicle's frame and alignment can affect the longevity and quality of your tires. Problems with frame and alignment can require more extensive work than simply rotating or replacing your tires. But the most common problems occur with standard punctures, flats, and wear that can often be solved with relatively inexpensive patches, plugs, or new tires.

Brakes

For autos, replacing the brake pads and occasionally brake rotors is a standard, necessary part of keeping the braking system in good shape. It’s recommended to replace the brake pads every 20,000 miles, but there is some leeway depending on the makeup and quality of the pads and how you drive. Rotors can be good for anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Again, it depends on the quality of the rotors and how you drive. More serious brake repairs can involve bleeding and replacing brake fluids, or replacing bad or dirty brake lines.

Transmission

Issues with your transmission can cost between $4,000 and $5,000, depending on the vehicle. This is one of the costlier repairs. Luckily, it’s not nearly as common as a flat tire or a brake pad.

There are two tell-tale indicators of transmission problems. The first is a burning smell coming from the transmission area. A burning smell can be hard to place, but any time you detect a burning odor, you should have your transmission checked. The second indicator is noise: when in neutral but still running, any engine noise like whining or humming could be related to your transmission.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to prevent or predict transmission repairs. But an extended service plan’s coverage could protect you from major repairs, just like a problem with your transmission.

RV Repairs

The convenience of owning and traveling in an RV brings with it a new set of potential maintenance and repair items to consider.

Like autos, many common RV repairs include standard preventative maintenance to avert costlier, multifarious problems—tires, oil and fluids, filters. But significant repairs, like transmission issues, do affect RV owners, and you should consider mechanical breakdown coverage of some kind.

Power Inverter & Converter

RVs require different types of power to allow all their various components to function independently. Inverters and converters allow electricity to run smoothly, and when these break, they cause issues throughout the vehicle or trailer.

Inverter and converter replacement or repairs are common and costly, ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your model of RV and the equipment it uses. If you operate a motorhome, auxiliary generators—another important electrical component—can cost upwards of $14,000 in repair costs.

Roof A/C

With your RV acting as both transportation and lodging, the A/C unit is an integral component. But it’s also infamously in need of maintenance or repair regularly. Roof A/C assembly repair is the most common repair covered by the Good Sam Extended Service Plan, meaning this issue occurs for a lot of RV owners, and it can mean a very uncomfortable trip until you get it repaired. Without coverage, a roof A/C repair can cost upwards of $8,500.

Refrigerator

For fifth wheels and travel trailers, the refrigerator is the second most common component requiring repair. And they run an expensive tab; for towables, you can expect to pay around $6,500 in some cases. For motorhome refrigerator repair, that number often more than doubles.

Of course, not all refrigerator repairs will run you to the far end of the spectrum, but those high costs can take a toll even if you experience a single instance without coverage.

If you know what potential risks exist for significant repair, you can take steps to protect yourself from the potential costs. The Good Sam Extended Service Plan protects autos and RVs in the case of major mechanical breakdown. You can handle the routine maintenance on your own, but put protection in place against the big risks that are less predictable and more expensive.