America’s Car Crisis: Nobody to Fix Our Cars

Issue #156

It turns out there are not enough mechanics to fix our cars.

One would say: train more. Well, it’s not that easy.

Market News

• Jeep might fix its biggest branding mistake as of late, by removing this name. 

• Kia is killing off the Soul, which is ironic, because it was one of its bestsellers. Here’s more. 

• The Mazda CX-5 leads the list of the most reliable cars under $30,000. Here it is. 

• Cadillac’s silent reimagining has taken full effect. Almost half of all its sold cars in Q3 were EVs. Here are their best-selling models. 

• Stellantis promises to invest $10 billion in US manufacturing. What’s the end result? We might see a V8-powered Dodge muscle car soon. 

• The American EV industry has an uncertain future, but key players aren’t giving up. 

• Car and Driver ranks the best compact cars for driveability, and Quartz gives us this slideshow, starting with the Toyota Corolla. 

• A devastating fire in a Ford supplier facility will interrupt supply for months. Here’s more. 

• These Jeep, Dodge and Fiat EVs can still apply for tax rebates. 

• Toyota draws the line: most hybrids aren’t really hybrids. Here’s what we mean.

Safety and Recalls

• Chevy recalls almost 24,000 Equinox EVs for being too quiet. 

• Several BMW models are recalled because the starter can overheat and start a fire. Here’s the list. 

• Volvo recalls its newest SUV because the tailgate can crash down.

Car Culture

• This new Ram makes the F-150 Lobo shake in fear. 

• Is the Chevy Suburban an SUV or a truck? Neither. Here’s the answer. 

• Have you ever heard of the Mazda Cosmo? Here’s the fascinating story about a car that could’ve upended the US market. 

• Jalopnik readers showcased the weirdest cars they’ve modified, including a Hyundai Elantra. Really?

• There’s a new BMW fragrance, but please don’t buy it. 

• Is this what Lamborghinis will look like in the future?

• What happens when you take camper modification too far? You get the Travelanche. 

• F1 CEO is willing to sacrifice classic race destinations because “young people don’t care.” Here’s more. 

• Is Maserati unreliable? This article busts the myths and brings the truths.

• Chinese car company blames an iPhone for an EV that drove off with no driver.This is the most dystopian headline we’ve ever written.

Video Of The Week

This is a 15-minute video on headlights. And we found it fascinating. 

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In The Know

America’s Car Crisis: Nobody to Fix Our Cars

The American automotive sector has one problem, and it’s not tariffs, overseas competition, or ever-changing regulations. It’s that we don’t have anyone to fix our cars. 

The country is short 400,000 to 600,000 mechanics, and that’s only for Ford, according to CEO Jim Farley. He addressed the issue in the latest Ford Pro town hall, where he highlighted the shortage as a crisis for both the company and the economy. You can read more about the event here. 

How does this translate? First, in longer waiting times. Ford nearly doubles the national average for appointment booking, as explained here. 

https://www.theautopian.com/ford-ceo-says-the-company-is-short-400000-technicians/

Across the country, hundreds of thousands of service bays sit empty because there’s no one qualified to fill them. This crisis raises two questions: is this something new, and whose fault is it?

The first question has a simple answer: the problem isn’t new. It’s been growing. 

This Fox Business article from late 2024 noted that the mechanic workforce has been aging out for years, and younger workers are not taking their place. The average technician is now in their 50s, and new recruits are few and far between.

We all might think that 50 years old isn’t old, but in mechanic’s years, it’s a lot. This article explains, from a firsthand perspective, how the body takes a massive toll. 

That’s one issue, but it’s not the most critical part. The biggest problem is that vehicles have become so complex and complicated that fixing them is almost impossible. 

Today’s cars are loaded with sensors, cameras, and software that require specialized training. In fact, when Farley mentioned the shortage online, one TikTok mechanic fired back, saying the real issue isn’t a lack of interest—it’s debt. 

Be sure to check out his response; it’s telling and realistic. You can watch it here. 

Young workers, he said, can’t afford to take on $30,000 of trade school loans for a job that often starts at modest pay.

That frustration is spreading. As Bakersfield Now reported, many auto technician programs are struggling to keep up with rapid technological change.

Hybrids, EVs, and software-heavy vehicles require new tools, new certifications, and constant updates—skills that even experienced mechanics don’t always have. 

Here’s another problem: in the past, we were sure that our tools would last for years. Now, software updates happen so fast that they are obsolete in no time. 

It’s gotten so bad that some mechanics are refusing to work on certain brands because they’re too complex or require manufacturer-only tools. This article summarizes nine of the most frequent reasons why technicians refuse to work on cars. 

When shops can’t get the equipment or software to fix a car, the job becomes a headache they don’t need. You’d think that mechanics then say: “I’ll focus only on X brand, or Y production years, but even these are already scarce.”

That’s why the shortage isn’t just hitting dealerships—it’s creeping into the classic car world, too. Vintage car restorers are aging out, and few young mechanics know how to work on carburetors or manual transmissions. Without new blood, the future of classic car culture is at risk, as explained here. 

So, what are automakers doing to fix this? To Ford’s credit, they’re trying to turn things around. The automaker recently expanded its auto technician scholarship program, investing $4 million to bring more young people into the field. Here are more details on the program. 

It’s a smart move, but it doesn’t solve the biggest problem. Unless automakers make vehicles easier to service, more accessible for independent shops, and more rewarding to work on, recruitment will remain an uphill battle.

Ford can fund programs and scholarships, but until the job becomes financially viable and technically sustainable, America’s car problem won’t be what we drive—it’ll be who can keep us driving.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you a home mechanic or are you intimidated by today’s new, technologically-heavy vehicles?