Mazda Lead Car Manufacturers Reliability Index

Warranty Direct, the market leaders selling warrnties direct to the motoring public, have updated their manufacturers performance index. The index based on their experience of the average claims cost per policy, which varies considerably by make of vehicle has this year been produced by model as well as make. In this index 100 is equivalent to the average claims cost per policy. Makes with higher index numbers cost above average, whilst those with lower numbers cost below average.

Commenting on the latest Motor Warranty Direct performance index today, their Chairman, David McClure Fisher said, "There have been a number of changes since the last index, however Land Rover still has the highest cost per policy, and Mazda continues to take the top slot. The rankings on the models are similar to the rates charged on warranties; certainly there were no surprises in the makes at the bottom of the list."

Commenting on the most common types of claim the Chief Engineer, Peter Hemmings, said "About one fifth of all our claims relate to the cooling system – radiators, water pumps and cylinder head gaskets. Drivers could avoid many of these if they carried out basic checks to oil and coolant levels regularly or if drivers took immediate action on seeing ANY oil or coolant leaking from their car.

The vehicles covered in this index are primarily new and used cars bought from dealers, although a significant proportion is cars bought privately. Their average age is just over 4 years and they have an average mileage at policy inception of 46,000 miles.

Warranty Direct offers extended mechanical and electrical warranties on cars less than 10 years old and a mileage of less than 100,000. Warranties are available whether cars are being purchased privately, from a dealer or auction; customers can also extend their existing manufacturers warranty with protection from Warranty Direct.