Wiring looms have overtaken bumpers as essentially the most ceaselessly repaired element following automobile collisions, based on new information from AA Accident Help.
The accident assist service, which marked its fifth anniversary this 12 months, mentioned that 99% of the greater than 14,500 autos it repaired final 12 months required new wiring looms.
The rising complexity of recent autos, with techniques comparable to parking sensors, reverse cameras and adaptive cruise management, signifies that electrical elements are actually extra prone to be broken in a crash than conventional physique panels.
Bumpers stay excessive on the listing, with 58% of autos needing a full bumper unit alternative and 32% requiring work to the entrance crash beams and fixings. Different generally repaired gadgets embody door elements, roofs and lighting models.
Prime 10 crash repairs in 2024/25
- Wiring looms – 99%
- Bumper models – 58%
- Rear bumper crash beams and fixings – 57%
- Entrance bumper crash beams and fixings – 32%
- Door locks, trims and seals – 12%
- Roof – 12%
- Hinges for bonnets and doorways – 7%
- Entrance doorways – 7%
- Rear doorways – 5%
- Lighting models – 3%
Regardless of the information, most drivers nonetheless assume bumpers are essentially the most generally repaired half. In a survey of greater than 10,000 drivers by AA Accident Help, 36% mentioned bumper models had been the highest restore, whereas only one% appropriately recognized wiring looms.
Expertise drives change in repairs
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Help, mentioned automobile repairs are actually way more advanced than merely changing broken components: “Fixing a automobile is extra superior than simply changing components.
“Wiring looms might sound easy, however they underpin important techniques like security imaging, velocity information and radar.
“With extra semi-autonomous options coming as normal, technicians now have to repair and recalibrate relatively than simply change and match.
“From distraction to tailgating, there are a variety of causes behind crashes, however one factor is obvious: repairing the fashionable automobile is extra about precision and programming than panel-beating.”
