Ownership Risk Timeline
What problems should you expect and when?
The Ownership Risk Timeline is a visual forecast of what to expect over your ownership period. See when major repairs are likely, when warranty coverage ends, and how your total cost of ownership evolves over time.
What the Timeline Shows
We project ownership risk across multiple time horizons based on historical data.
Major Repair Probability
35%Based on reliability data for this make/model/year, what's the probability of major repairs at each ownership milestone?
Warranty Timeline
25%When does warranty coverage end? What components fall out of coverage first? How does this impact your risk exposure?
Component Failure Risk
25%Historical data on which components tend to fail and when. Transmission at 80k miles? A/C compressor at 5 years?
TCO Projection
15%How total cost of ownership evolves year over year, including increasing maintenance and repair costs as the vehicle ages.
The Typical Ownership Journey
Most components under warranty. Minimal unexpected costs. Enjoy your new vehicle.
Bumper-to-bumper warranty may end. First maintenance items appear. Budget for routine service.
Powertrain warranty ending. Higher probability of wear items needing replacement. TCO increases.
Major components may need attention. Evaluate repair vs. replacement decisions carefully.
Higher repair probability. But if well-maintained, many vehicles thrive well beyond this point.
Using the Timeline
Match Your Timeline
If you plan to keep a car for 3 years, focus on that window. A vehicle with higher risk at year 7 doesn't matter to you.
Consider Extended Warranty
If the timeline shows high risk at year 4-5, an extended warranty might make financial sense for peace of mind.
Budget Accordingly
Use the timeline to set aside a maintenance fund. Knowing costs increase in years 5+ helps you prepare financially.
See Your Risk Timeline
Search for any vehicle to see its projected ownership risk over time.
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