Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning, can add up to 37 percent to the total repair cost after a crash, according to a new AAA study.
The organization said the high cost of replacing and calibrating the sensors that operate the systems created the additional costs but advised drivers to be aware of the repair costs and prioritize repairs when necessary to ensure the systems worked as intended.
The AAA said the highest repair cost for ADAS components is attributed to radar sensors and cameras damaged in a front-end collision. For the three vehicles evaluated in the report, the organization found that:
- The average cost of replacing ADAS components in a minor front collision repair was $1,540, or 13 percent of the average total repair.
- An average of 70 percent of the repair cost ($1,067) was attributable to the ADAS camera included in the side mirror assembly.
- The average cost of replacing ADAS components in a minor rear collision repair was $684, or 40 percent of the average total repair estimate of $1,698.
- The cost of windshield glass replacement attributable to ADAS components averaged 25 per cent ($360.00) of the total repair cost.
“Vehicles equipped with more sophisticated safety systems are much more common now, especially since NHTSA proposed its rule requiring automatic emergency braking earlier this year,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering.
“Consumers should know about the repair costs associated with these technologies. But they must also understand the importance of fixing them since improperly functioning systems could result in a deadly crash.”
