Repair times on electric cars extend into months in Australia, with concerns raised on all makes and models

A new report from the Australia Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has shed light over fresh concerns regarding long car repair and refund wait times in Australia.

Dealers admitted customers face significant delays to get their cars fixed in Australia, especially EVs. 

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It can take between six and eight weeks for an issue to just be diagnosed due to workshop backlogs.

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The association said some manufacturing faults can even take months or years to be correctly diagnosed

Dealers are now refusing to accept tow-ins or diagnostic work for vehicles they did not originally sell due their backlogs.

Dealers have also pointed the finger at car manufacturers that dispute or mull over approving warranty requests.

The report said that only manufacturers can provide remedy for design faults, leaving dealers helpless to appease customer expectations of a swift resolution. 

The report stated concerns over manufacturers denying reimbursement claims and failing to meaningfully engage with dispute processes. 

Carmakers are required to make parts and repair available for a reasonable time after purchase, but this is a vague stipulation.

The report sets out several Australian Consumer Law reform recommendations to rectify these issues. 

It said manufacturers should be required to respond to buyback requests within a fixed period.

If the manufacturer fails to respond with written confirmation of indemnity, it is deemed to have accepted responsibility.

Manufacturers should also be required to join legal tribunal proceedings for alleged manufacturing or systemic defects. 

The report called for further clarification of consumer guarantees regarding battery degradation and replacement thresholds. 

This would recognise the inevitable delays of sourcing EV components and developing software solutions.

The Australian EV boom is in full swing, with sales surging in the wake of skyrocketing fuel prices and increasingly stringent environment regulations. 

More EVs will hit the roads in the coming months, with the industry likely to be placed under further strain.