Rising repair costs for older cars

As South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market gears up, a new study reveals the eye-watering repair costs facing motorists, with hybrid and EV battery replacements soaring to an average R231,250. The global EV repair service market is projected to grow by a staggering R741,11 billion in 2025, making understanding repair costs critical for owners.

Research firm NexusMedia, using data from Shopify’s EasySearch platform, analysed failure-prone components across traditional, electric and hybrid vehicles. The study ranked parts by repair cost, search volume, and their devastating impact on resale value.

Note: Although this survey is a US-based one and the values converted to Rand at the current exchange rate, it does give food for thought for car owners, especially those considering the ‘drive it until it dies’ ownership plan.

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The Costly Top Ten (Average Repair Cost in ZAR):

1. Hybrid/Electric Battery: R231,250 (Most expensive repair). Also causes the highest resale value loss at 45%, slashing approximately R166,500 off the vehicle’s price.
2. Engine and Cylinders: R129,500. The most searched repair (2,46 million queries), causing a 40% value loss.
3. Automatic Gearbox: R92,500. Repairs decrease car value by R129,500 (35% impact).
4. Transmission: R83,250. A very common issue (1,04 million searches), leading to a 30% resale drop.
5. Inverter (EV/Hybrid): R64,750. Less common (62,500 searches), but still causes a R74,000 (20%) value hit.
6. Air Suspension: R50,875. The least searched problem (17,600 searches), resulting in a 15% value loss.
7. Airbags: R46,250. Affects value significantly (25% loss) despite moderate search interest (56,100 searches).
8. Suspension: R46,250. A highly common issue (1,48 million searches), but has a lower 12% impact on resale.
9. Head Gasket: R41,625. Frequently searched (1,30 million queries), causing a 15% value decrease.
10. Turbocharger: R41,625. Ties on cost but has the lowest impact in the top 10, reducing value by just 12%.

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The Ownership Paradox

A NexusMedia spokesperson ( https://apps.shopify.com/easysearch) highlighted a growing dilemma for drivers: "The era of 'fix it until it dies' is rapidly ending. Repairs now resemble stock trading – knowing when to hold and when to cut losses. While EVs promise lower lifetime costs, a single catastrophic failure, like a battery, can instantly wipe out years of fuel savings and render a functional car financially toxic."

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This study underscores the importance of factoring potential repair costs and their impact on future value, especially as higher-risk EV and hybrid components enter more South African driveways. Motorists are urged to consider comprehensive warranties and understand the long-term cost implications of major repairs before committing.

Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with

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