Top 5 Common Car Problems People Have In Minnesota

To say that our family has a few vehicles is an understatement.  There are five of us that drive and right now, we have five cars.  And those cars are NOT all brand new.  Sometimes, with older cars, issues happen...like last week, when my kids' car decided to start showing off with a big poof of blue smoke when you stepped on the gas.  It was VERY blue.

As the blue smoke was billowing up towards the sky, we did what a lot of people do when cars start to have issues - we scream.

Just kidding.  We didn't scream but we did whip out our phones and started Googling all possibilities because we were hoping to be an at-home mechanic and fix the blue smoke ourselves.

READ MORE: Minnesota Was Just Named One of the Smartest States in the U.S.

Get our free mobile app

The Most Common Car Problems in Minnesota

My family with five cars isn't the only one experiencing car problems in Minnesota.  According to data compiled by personal injury attorneys at Jones & Swanson, people in the Land of 10,000 Lakes have A LOT of car problems and are using Google just like me to help diagnose the issue.

Based on the Google data that was looked at, below are the top five car problems that had the highest number of average monthly searches in Minnesota:

1. A Flat Tire

Does it surprise you that the top car problem in Minnesota is a flat tire?  On average, there are 653 searches a month about flat tires in Minnesota.

If you've never learned how to change a flat tire, add that skill to your to-do list this week and practice.  It is also a good idea to check your car to make sure you have a spare tire, a jack and also a way to get the lug nuts off.

2. Squeaking Brakes

One of our cars has a little squeak happening right now when you touch the brakes a little bit.  My family is not alone in this car issue either because 552 average monthly searches for squeaking brakes are occurring in Minnesota.

I was always told that when you hear your brakes squeaking, that is a sign to have your brake pads checked.  Sometimes it is just dirt or debris in the brake pad area but that squeak could indicate that it is also time to have your brake pads replaced.

3. Leaking Oil

Coming in at a whopping 380 average searches a month in Minnesota is "leaking oil".

To help save you from that search, if you see drop of oil, see if you can find the source.  A part could be loose, you might have a damaged oil pan or there could be too much oil in your engine.  If you are unsure how to fix this problem, consider getting it fixed by a professional since oil that is leaking is flammable.

4. A Dead Battery

If you haven't experienced a dead car battery in the middle of a Minnesota winter, don't worry, you will.  269 average searches a month happen in Minnesota for dead batteries related to cars.

How will you know that you have a dead battery?  Your car won't start.  You can jump the battery to get it working again but at some point, a new car battery is most likely in your future.  If your battery smells bad, that is also another sign that your vehicle is due for a new one.  (Personally, I have never smelled my battery, but I will just believe the experts on this stat.)

5. Transmission Slipping

Regardless if you have a manual or automatic transmission, having this car issue can be dangerous.  This is the 5th common car issue based on the 266 average monthly searches in Minnesota.