How reliable will new cars equipped with the latest technology be in the long run?

Valerie Raskovic

Feb 18, 2025

Share:

Many of the new cars on the market today have become increasingly sophisticated. Even entry level budget minded vehicles are now being equipped with advanced tech features. While these innovations offer enhanced performance, safety and convenience, they also introduce new challenges in terms of reliability and long-term value.

Electric Cars: Fewer Moving Parts, More Complex Systems

Electric cars (EVs) are often praised for their simplicity, as they have fewer moving parts compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This can reduce the likelihood of mechanical failures. However, these vehicles are typically equipped with various complex systems. This cutting-edge tech can make EVs more problematic and costly to maintain. For instance, the battery, which is the heart of an EV, typically has a lifespan of around 12 years. After this period the battery may need to be replaced, which can be an expensive proposition, often costing over 10 thousand dollars. This does not just affect the long-term ownership cost but also has a great influence over the vehicles resale value of the vehicle.

New Service Items and Their Costs

Modern cars, whether electric, hybrid, or conventional are coming with a plethora of new service items that did not exist a decade ago. This means that car owners now must deal with maintaining and servicing these additional systems.  Some of the services include:

• Battery Maintenance and Replacement: As mentioned, EV batteries require periodic checks and may need to be replaced, which can cost between $5,000 and $15,000.  


• Software Updates: Most modern cars are equipped with multiple computers monitoring and controlling multiple systems built into the vehicles. Bugs within the software have become somewhat common place generally addressed by the manufacturer with software updates. The issues are that now vehicles will require regular software updates to maintain various systems, functionality and security. While some updates can be done over-the-air, others may require dealership visits, adding to maintenance costs.


• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking rely on complex sensors and cameras. These components can be expensive to repair or replace often costing several thousand dollars. Additionally, these systems are known for generating false positive readings often distracting the driver and becoming a safety risk in themselves. These false positives are most commonly attributed to software bugs and an unconventional/aggressive driving style. For example, a driver familiar with their garage and parking space may back into it slightly faster than the system deems safe. In such cases, vehicle equipped with collision avoidance technology may automatically activate the brakes. This sudden braking can startle the driver, as it is unexpected and it may also lead to premature brake wear due to the system applying the brakes aggressively in an effort to avoid a collision.

From my personal experience driving various makes and models of new vehicles I can say with some degree of confidence that many of these safety systems are not yet perfected. I have experienced multiple instances where lane-keeping assist incorrectly assumed I was veering off course or detected a vehicle in my blind spot when none was actually there. Each time the system's intervention startled me and diverted my attention from the road, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

• Infotainment Systems: High-tech infotainment systems, while convenient can be prone to glitches and require frequent updates. Repairs can be costly, especially if the system is integrated with other vehicle functions. There has been a trend in the automotive world of berrying crucial vehicle functions in screen menus making those features somewhat challenging to access without being familiar with the vehicle software. Moreover, if the interface screen fails for any reason and there is no hard button to press to access various systems it may make it impossible to operate the vehicle without repairing the screen.


• Electrification of vehicle entry systems: It used to be that we pulled real door handles to access our cars but now they are replaced with electrical solenoid and complex systems allowing vehicle unlock and entry a bit more convenient however, just like most things on this list this convenience comes at a hefty cost. In a situation where the vehicle battery is completely dead the operator may have a difficult time entering and exiting the vehicle and must resort to using hidden emergency mechanical entry systems. The problem is that not all people are aware of how to access and use these emergency mechanical latch release switches or latches. A recent incident involved a man who was nearly burned to death in a Tesla that caught fire due to an electrical system failure because he was unable to open the door. Bystanders had to intervene, breaking the window to rescue him and save his life.


• Fly-by-wire controls: Fly-by-wire controls in new cars, particularly those governing the transmission, can introduce significant reliability and safety concerns. Unlike traditional mechanical systems, fly-by-wire technology relies on electronic signals to manage gear shifts. This means that if the vehicle's electrical system fails, you may lose the ability to shift into neutral. In such a scenario, the car cannot be easily towed, as the transmission remains locked in its current gear. This can lead to additional complications and costs, as specialized towing services may be required to safely move the vehicle. The reliance on electronic systems also means that any malfunction or software glitch can render the car inoperable, potentially stranding the driver and passengers in an unsafe situation.

Examples of Problematic Tech

The new vehicle tech features we mentioned above represent just a few of the issues commonly experienced by new car owners. While these features can be problematic when they fail, they still serve a purpose that for some consumers, may outweigh their inherent shortcomings. However, there are also features being installed on many vehicles today that provide little to no real benefit. These features are nothing more than gimmicks that will likely cause more problems in the long run. We have listed these features below:

• Engine Start-Stop Technology: This feature, designed to save fuel by shutting off the engine at stoplights, can be a nuisance. It can lead to increased wear on the starter motor and battery and some drivers find it distracting or annoying. I have personally had the experience driving around in a rental car in traffic which simply did not restart after it automatically shut off causing further traffic and delays and aggravating my fellow drivers. The worst part is that drivers that do not wish to use this tech have to remember to disable the system every time they start the car as it is enabled by default every time you start the vehicle on most vehicles.

• Capless gas tanks: This feature is marketed as a convenient way of filling up your gas tank. No longer do you need to untwist the cap to fill up your car with gas, but the capless gas tank technology replaces the traditional gas cap with two precision-fitted one-way valves. These valves allow the nozzle of the gas filler to enter and automatically seal the tank as soon as the nozzle is removed, using spring-loaded mechanisms and gaskets to prevent fuel vapor from escaping. While this technology may sound promising on paper, is it unnecessary and replaces and simple functional item with a serviceable system. Just ask yourself how hard is it to really twist a gas cap, is it really worth dealing with additional system.

One of the main issues with this system is that the gaskets will wear out over time, requiring periodic maintenance. However, the most significant drawback is that vehicles equipped with this technology often cannot be refueled using conventional gas cans without a special funnel. This funnel is necessary to keep both valves open while filling the tank. If the funnel is lost or not used, the nozzle from the gas may damage the system, leading to unnecessary expenses, check engine lights, gas vapors escaping the gas tank and headaches. In addition, the system is not fool proof and has been known to introduce contaminants into the fuel. I tend to be of the mindset “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” and for that reason I really despise this feature.

• Proximity based entry systems: The system we are referring to is not the touch-based system that automatically unlocks the car as soon as one of the door handles are touched. The system in question unlocks the car as the person with the key fob or smartphone app approaches. As you can imagine, proximity-based entry systems have numerous bugs and vulnerabilities that clever thieves often exploit to steal vehicles. At the very least, this feature can be a hassle for car technicians who repeatedly approach and leave the vehicle while performing various services.

While most manufacturers provide an option to disable this feature, doing so usually requires time and research to make it a permanent change. Additionally, the frequent radio signal broadcasts from the key fob can cause interference, leading to technical issues that may require servicing.

• Complex Climate Control Systems: Advanced climate control systems integrated into touch screens with multiple zones and settings can become finicky over time and may require frequent calibration or repairs.

Long-Term Value and Cost

The long-term value and cost of maintaining a car with advanced technology can be higher than that of a conventional car. For example, a simple car with fewer features and less technology is likely to be more reliable and less expensive to maintain over its lifespan. The lack of high-tech systems means fewer things can go wrong, and when issues do arise, they are often easier and cheaper to fix.

The Simplicity Advantage

The most reliable cars tend to be those that are simpler, with fewer features and less technology. Fewer components mean fewer things to break. For instance, a basic vehicle equipped with a naturally aspirated gasoline engine, mechanical door handles and latches without any advanced driver aids will encounter fewer maintenance issues and lower repair costs compared to a luxury EVs or Hybrids with various autonomous technologies with a full suit of ADAS features.

In conclusion, while advanced technology in new cars offers many benefits, it also introduces new challenges and costs. For those looking for a reliable and cost-effective vehicle, a simpler model with fewer high-tech features may be the best choice.