In five years, no one will be able to afford a car

The problem in the coming years won't be buying a car, but paying to keep it on the road. Parts that used to be replaced individually are now only sold as complete modules, and the bill multiplies by six.

A car with **89,000 km** arriving at the workshop with a faulty airbag is not news. What outrages **Enrique Álvarez**, known as Kike, a mechanic at **Talleres Piba** in **Daimiel** (**Ciudad Real**), is the bill: almost **€500** for a fault that used to be fixed for **€80**. He has told the story in a video, and it's not the first time.

## The reel that is no longer sold separately

The car came in with a faulty airbag ring. The internal cables of the reel had broken from use, which is common. Previously, that reel was a separate part: you bought it for **€80** and replaced just that. Now the manufacturer forces you to replace the entire control unit, and the part costs **€480**.

The difference is not a workshop whim. It responds to a design that prevents repairing by parts: entire modules and assemblies are replaced. In the mechanic's own words, the customer ends up paying six times more for a fault that used to be minor.

## Single-use screws

During assembly, another problem appeared. Kike tried to reuse the original screws, a common practice in the trade. The heads rounded off when tightened to the specified torque, even though they threaded into plastic. His conclusion is that they are designed for single use.

From there he jumps to a broader reflection. If the trend continues, he argues, the car will once again become a good only within reach of the rich, as before the 1960s. He already issued a similar warning in **September 2025**: according to his experience, the lifespan of many components has been reduced by around **300%**, and owners of new cars would face repairs costing hundreds of euros just a few years after purchase. His example then: paying more than **€40,000** for a car and facing **€500** repairs after five years.

## Leasing eats up purchasing

These costs largely explain the rise of leasing in Spain, a modality that was a rarity just ten years ago. It allows you to wash your hands of everything associated with ownership: insurance, taxes and maintenance. During the first half of **2026**, leasing's share reached **26.69%** of total registrations in Spain. One in four cars is, in reality, rented.

The figure does not say that anyone will stop having a car. It says something more uncomfortable: fewer and fewer people want to bear the burden of ownership. And when repairing an airbag costs six times what it used to, the decision makes itself.

Before making any decision about repairs or leasing contracts, it is advisable to review the written estimate and, if there are legal doubts, consult a professional.