Do electric vehicles still need to be serviced?
We get that question a lot. While there is definitely less to repair on an EV, they absolutely still need regular inspections. Since you aren’t bringing the car in for an oil change every 5,000 miles, it’s easy to let routine checks slide. If you own an EV, you should still aim to have it looked at every 5,000–10,000 miles, depending on how much you drive.
One thing is for sure: EVs love to wear out tires. Between the heavy battery weight and the instant torque from the electric motor, tires can get chewed up very quickly. (If you own a Tesla…you know exactly what we are talking about.)
This 2021 VW ID.4 came in with 85,000 miles. The owner reached out because he was hearing a noise he suspected was suspension-related. He originally asked for a quote on new struts, however from our many years of experience, most of the time when someone asks for a repair related quote over the phone, it is not actually what he car needs.
Using our digital inspection process, we can pinpoint the actual issue and show the customer photos of exactly what’s going on.
It’s a good thing we did, because it wasn’t the struts.
Our inspection revealed the noise was actually coming from a worn-out front sway bar end link. While we were in there, we found the front control arms needed attention too. Control arm replacement is practically a tradition on VW models dating back to the 90s—maybe even earlier.
In this case, the rubber bushing was separating from its metal housing. Since these bushings “float” in the control arm, we always recommend replacing the entire arm rather than just the bushing.
We also replace the ball joints and, crucially, all the hardware. That includes the subframe hardware that has to be removed to get the arms out—everything gets replaced and torqued to spec. Once the suspension was tight again, we performed a 4-wheel alignment.
Beyond the suspension, the ID.4 needed front brakes. These were the original pads and rotors. While regenerative braking helps EV brakes last longer than gas cars, these were definitely overdue. You could clearly see the uneven wear and corrosion that builds up over time.
We also flushed the brake fluid, which appeared to be original. Regardless of mileage, brake fluid absorbs moisture and should be flushed every two years to protect the system.
The customer was very happy with how the car drove after we got everything sorted.
He was kind enough to share his experience through a nice Google review, which I shared below.
Thank you reading!
