What r/autorepair keeps coming back to
Complaints raised here by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
52 recurring problems · 129 threads read · read since September 2026 · Reddit
Raised more than once here
Most people first.
- 63Is it worth fixing an old car when repairs cost more than it's worth?“Worth it in your book? The truck is probably worth $3k to $4k private party.”
- 58How to explain an intermittent car noise to a mechanic“I had parked in a parking lot outside for a few hours and came back to my car and suddenly there was a loud screeching noise as if something fell off. There was no lights or any other indication to tell what was wrong.”
- 56Vehicle cranks after fuel pump replacement but won't start“Hey y’all I’m new to everything cars but i figure I’d try to fix this ol boy up.”
- 50Landlord built a fence around the AC and it broke“Ok so, my sister was convinced she could do an oil change on my car. But when she was under there she started unscrewing the wrong thing.. it made a hissing sound and a little green liquid came out and she immediately retightened it.”
- 42Is this mechanic repair quote too high?“Nearly $4100 for a VTC Actuator and Timing Chain Replacement, is this mechanic upcharging me on other stuff that I need or don't need?”
- 36Why are contractor and window replacement quotes so absurdly high?“Pretty much clueless about cars, but this seems high.”
- 31Why does my car make a loud rattle when starting the engine?“I noticed this about a week ago it would make that weird noise and basically it takes a extra few seconds to start and sounds like it doesn’t wanna start every time I start the car not sure what it is”
- 30Should I pay for appliance repair or fix it myself?“2023 Toyota Corolla, just noticed a nail in the tire sidewall of one of the rear tires.”
- 29How to remove a stripped recessed retaining screw“Already tried jamming a flathead screwdriver in it, no go. Tried using extractor bits. It’s recessed so I don’t think I can use a power tool to notch it for a flathead. No welding tools available.”
- 18Why are my brakes squeaking and shaking the floorboard?“I have a 2000 Toyota Tundra that has bit of vibration when braking. It's worse around 20 to 30 mph, and fells more in the front end.”
- 16How to know which replacement part code to buy“So I’m trying to replace my brake rotors and pads for a 2005 Cadillac CTS. But when looking online I see two listings for brake/rotor kits for brake code JL9 and RPO code FE1.”
- 13How to pay for expensive structural property repairs“We took it in and they said it needs a new transmission and quoted us $8000 which is definitely something we cannot afford.”
- 12Why am I paying for broken bolts during a car repair?“the manufacturer knows of an existing problem with bolts seizing and breaking off in the manifold and hasn’t fixed the problem?”
- 12How to find a hidden engine oil leak spraying on components“I was filling it up w coolant and heard DRIPPING.”
- 10Used car broke down immediately after buying from a dead dealership“Looking for a new car with a low budget (I’m 16) since my current car has a bunch of problems.”
- 9Is changing your own oil actually worth it?“I’ve heard oil changes aren’t worth it due to the cost of oil and oil filter and time it takes.”
- 9Is it safe to use a plastic fuel filter near a hot engine?“Looks like it's been chiseled.”
- 8Which mechanic diagnosis do I trust when they completely disagree?“Now I’m confused because the diagnoses are different.”
- 7How to tell if car suspension bushings need to be replaced“Guy said that they're separating. I don't know what I'm looking at. Would like some advice please.”
- 6Metal flakes in engine oil after buying a used car“I recently bought a used car (1999 mazda) and did an oil change on it for the first time. I found a couple small bits of what looks to be metal in the old oil.”
What this forum worries about more than the rest
How much more often a topic shows up here than across every forum we read.
rust repair53.5×maintenance errors53.5×mechanic pricing53.5×engine swap53.5×