A recent survey from FinanceBuzz suggests that most drivers need assistance with most automotive maintenance tasks.
The company surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults on basic automotive knowledge and skills. It found that, while most are capable of putting air in their tires or replacing wiper fluid, drivers struggle with maintenance tasks more involved than that.
When it comes to oil changes, just 36% said they could perform one on their own. It had the lowest confidence score of all tasks—save for changing spark plugs, which 73% of drivers said they required someone else to do.
Drivers also struggle with changing tires, with 48% saying they could do so without any assistance.
When divided among age groups, millennials were the most confident when it comes to performing oil changes themselves. 23% said they definitely could, and another 20% said they could after doing some research beforehand.
Additionally, drivers aren’t sure what many of the dashboard warning symbols in their vehicles mean. 77% could recognize a check engine light, and 76% knew oil pressure warning lights; but just 13% were able to identify the brake warning symbol.
