by The most common problems with electric cars: not the battery, but minor faults
If you are looking at a used electric car, you are probably most concerned about the condition of the high-voltage battery. However, a new study of warranty repairs shows that this is far from the most common problem owners face.
The study, based on repair request data from the company Warrantywise in the UK, found that the biggest headaches with electric car reliability are the same problems that drivers have had for years with conventional cars. Electrical faults, suspension wear, and even the humble 12-volt battery occur much more frequently than high-voltage battery failures.
Electrics and suspension: the main culprits
Topping the list are general electrical faults, including sensors and central locking systems. The average cost of such repairs was around £810-900 ($1,085-1,205), although individual cases reached over £3,000 ($4,020) and even £4,000 ($5,350).
Suspension components, especially control arms, also frequently failed. The average repair costs exceeded £1,200 ($1,600), with the largest individual request reaching £4,100 ($5,490). This is a reminder that even without an engine and gearbox, an electric car has many conventional parts that wear out over time, and due to the greater weight, the suspension receives even more stress.
Top 5 electric car faults
| Failure Area | Part | Average Repair Cost | Most Expensive Repair | |
| 1 | Electrical System | Sensors | £810 ($1,085) | £3,270 ($4,380) |
| 2 | Electrical System | Central Locking | £900 ($1,205) | £4,060 ($5,435) |
| 3 | Electric Vehicle | Onboard Charger | £2,160 ($2,890) | £10,455 ($14,000) |
| 4 | Suspension | Control Arms | £1,230 ($1,650) | £4,120 ($5,515) |
| 5 | Electrical System | Auxiliary Battery (12V) | £535 ($716) | £990 ($1,325) |
Onboard charger: the most expensive EV-specific problem
The only truly EV-specific component to make the top five was the onboard charger. While the average repair request was £2,160 ($2,890), the largest single case reached £10,455 ($14,000). This shows that while such failures don’t happen every day, they can be extremely expensive.
Battery problems are exaggerated
And what about the high-voltage traction battery that everyone fears so much? It didn’t make the top five at all. This doesn’t mean battery failures never happen, but they were relatively rare in the warranty data. This is likely because electric car batteries are more durable than many think, and they often have a longer factory warranty. When problems did occur, the average repair cost exceeded £6,400 ($8,570).
The data also showed that the average cost of electric car repairs increased by 10.7% between 2024 and 2025. This increase is not necessarily linked to deteriorating reliability—inflation, labor costs, and parts prices could also have contributed to higher bills.
As with any set of warranty data, the results only reflect cars covered by these policies, not all electric cars on the road. Nevertheless, it indicates that the expensive battery, which dominates many purchasing conversations, is not the terrifying cost it is often made out to be.
Interestingly, the study debunks one of the most common myths about electric cars—that their batteries are a “time bomb” in terms of repair costs. In practice, owners more often encounter problems well known to owners of conventional cars, such as sensor faults or suspension wear. This may indicate that electric car manufacturers have made significant progress in battery longevity, but still need to work on the quality of other components. Furthermore, the 10.7% year-over-year increase in average repair costs serves as a reminder that the overall maintenance costs of electric cars may be rising, albeit not for the most anticipated reasons.
