New data has found that little-known issues could be the most common car feature that needs to be repaired following an accident.
Wiring looms have emerged as the most frequently repaired part following collisions, overtaking traditional bodywork components like bumpers.
Since many new cars have state-of-the-art technology inside, the likelihood of the wiring being damaged is far greater than in previous generations.
Some of the most common faults with electronic systems following a crash include parking assistance, camera technology, and driver aids.
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Drivers are unaware of many of the most common issues with their cars following an accident
GETTY
The complexity of these interconnected systems means that even minor crashes can damage the intricate wiring networks that power essential safety features.
The change represents a significant departure from conventional crash repair work, where visible bodywork damage was typically the primary concern.
Of the 14,500 vehicles repaired last year, an overwhelming 99 per cent required new wiring looms to restore functionality, according to AA Accident Assist.
Traditional bodywork repairs, whilst still significant, proved far less prevalent over the last 12 months.
Drivers failed to identify wiring looms as the most common repair after a crash
GETTYBumper units needed replacement in 58 per cent of cases, whilst front bumpers specifically required fixing in just 32 per cent of vehicles.
The repair statistics also revealed that front doors accounted for seven per cent of fixes, with lighting units comprising just three per cent.
Both components featured in the organisation's top 10 most-repaired items, alongside fixing damage to car roofs.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, emphasised the complexity of contemporary vehicle repairs, saying: "Fixing a car is more advanced than just replacing parts. With every evolution of vehicle technology comes more sophisticated and high-tech repairs.
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"The wires help run fundamental safety features around the car, such as images, speed data and radar technology."
Rankin noted that the widespread use of semi-autonomous driving assistance packages as standard equipment has transformed the repair process.
"Repairers are being tasked to fix and calibrate, as opposed to simply replace and fit," he said.
Public perception remains significantly misaligned with this new reality, with more than a third of respondents, 36 per cent, incorrectly believing bumper units were the most commonly repaired component.
Remarkably, only one per cent of drivers correctly identified wiring looms as the most-repaired item following a collision.
As cars become more technologically advanced, wiring loom repairs could become more common
VOLKSWAGENThe top 10 repairs following a collision in 2024/25
- Wiring looms - 99 per cent
- Bumper units - 58 per cent
- Rear bumper crash beams and fixings - 57 per cent
- Front bumper crash beams and fixings - 32 per cent
- Door locks, trims and seals - 12 per cent
- Roof - 12 per cent
- Hinges for bonnets and doors - seven per cent
- Front doors - seven per cent
- Rear doors - five per cent
- Lighting units - three per cent
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