In a survey conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of Hyundai, it was found that the average person drives their car almost 2,500 miles over the recommended 5,000-mile distance before they get an oil change.
OnePoll surveyed 2,000 drivers, out of which 47 percent claimed to have missed or been late to an event because of a vehicle malfunction. Regardless of this, four out of five of them, believe they take good care of their vehicles, even though one in three admit to driving with their check engine light on, and on average, they will wait nine days before taking their vehicle into the shop.
The survey revealed many other bad driving habits as well, including
- Twenty-six percent drive with bad tire pressure
- Twenty-two percent do not use the parking brake
- Twenty-one percent shift into reverse while their vehicle is still in motion
However, through all this wear and tear, one in four respondents haven't had their vehicle serviced in the last 12 months. A quarter of them claim not to have the time, over 50 percent of them find the prospect intimidating, three out of ten use the excuse of their technician's attitude keeping them away, and 45 percent say it's too expensive.
“In order to keep up with the demands of daily life, routine vehicle maintenance is important to ensure you can get to your destination safely and reliably," said Barry Ratzlaff, Hyundai chief customer officer.
The pandemic also plays a role in people's lack of willingness to get their vehicles serviced. The survey shows that 78 percent of people want to know what safety precautions a business is taking before they visit. And more specific to automotive shops, 62 percent of the respondents want there to be social distancing between the employees and the consumers, 51 percent want requirements for PPE face coverings, and 43 percent are looking for touchless/handsfree transactions.
"It’s important to be safe while getting routine vehicle maintenance, which is why [Hyundai is] offering service pick-up and drop-off, and we are providing guidelines for dealerships to help safeguard the health of customers and employees,” Ratzlaff noted.
Another factor that prevents people from properly caring for their vehicles is lack of knowledge. One in three respondents claimed this was why they weren't bringing their vehicles in for maintenance.
“While it’s valuable to know basic skills like changing a tire, your local dealership is the best place for regular maintenance and other services when it’s needed," Ratzlaff said. "Taking your vehicle in for routine maintenance at its normal intervals helps improve the performance and extend the life of your car."
