Vehicle technology is changing the world of vehicle repairs, as
AA Accident Assist reveals that wiring looms were the most
repaired part of a car following a crash.
After repairing more than 14,500 vehicles last year, 99% required
new wiring looms to help get them back on the road. Wires are
used to connect, power and run systems such as parking sensors,
rear-facing cameras and adaptive cruise control. As well as the
physical repair, such technology has to be recalibrated to ensure
it is safe to use.
Meanwhile, around three fifths of repairs needed new bumper units
(58%), while a third required new front bumpers (32%). Other
bodywork parts such as front doors (7%) and lighting units (3%)
made the top 10 list of most fixed items.
AA Accident Assist, Top 10 repairs following a collision,
2024/25*
1. Wiring looms – 99%
2. Bumper units – 58%
3. Rear bumper crash beams and
fixings – 57%
4. Front bumper crash beams and
fixings – 32%
5. Door locks, trims and seals –
12%
6. Roof – 12%
7. Hinges for bonnets and doors –
7%
8. Front doors – 7%
9. Rear doors – 5%
10. Lighting units – 3%
To gauge understanding from the motoring public, AA Accident
Assist asked more than 10,000 drivers to identify what they
believed to be the most repaired item following a crash. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, more than a third (36%**) felt that bumper units
were the top repair, closely followed by front and rear bumper
crash beams and fixings (27% and 18% respectively). Just 1%
correctly identified wiring looms as the most repaired item.
Five years of post-crash confidence
AA Accident Assist has turned five years old, and in that time,
they have helped more than 130,000 AA members following a
collision. The complimentary service as part of AA membership has
helped drivers repair their vehicle and get them back on the road
again***.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said;
“Fixing a car is more advanced than just replacing parts. With
every evolution of vehicle technology comes more sophisticated
and high-tech repairs.
“Wiring looms might seem innocuous, but the wires do more than
just carry power around the car. The wires help run fundamental
safety features around the car, such as images, speed data and
radar technology. With more semi-autonomous driving assistance
packages being placed on cars as standard, repairers are being
tasked to fix and calibrate, as opposed to simply replace and
fit.
“As Accident Assist celebrates its fifth anniversary, we are
gathering more insight into how and why people crash on our
roads. From tailgating to being distracted, there are a wide
range of reasons why collisions continue to happen.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* AA Accident Assist repair data, 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
** Yonder received 10,509 responses from AA members to its online
poll between the 13th to 20th May 2025. Yonder is a member
of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
*** Accident Assist and Recovery |
Road Accident Assistance | AA
