MOTORISTS are being urged to consider mechanical breakdown cover more seriously by AA Warranty, the company's latest statistics reveal that each year a third of those with warranty cover suffer a breakdown. The company is warning that, with the costs for replacement engines and gear boxes running into thousands of pounds, drivers need to think about how the expense of these unexpected faults can be absorbed.

According to AA Warranty research, the most likely component to fail on a vehicle during winter is the ignition coil pack - costing on average £180 to replace. This is closely followed by the cylinder head gasket, where a replacement can cost £390. However, whilst claims for replacement engines are less frequent than coil packs and head gaskets, they can hit drivers' wallets by up to £5,000 - just for an average family car.

Commenting on the situation, Simon Tennyson, Managing Director of AA Warranty, said: "When most cars are four years old the manufacturer's warranty expires. But many buyers won't want to pay for mechanical breakdown insurance - it's only when the car breaks down that the convenience of such cover is appreciated.

"Whilst some makes and models are certainly more reliable than others, the likelihood for components to fail generally goes up as a vehicle's age and mileage increases." Tennyson points out that having to pay for the possibly high cost of a breakdown can be an unwelcome financial shock, especially when families may be struggling to pay off Christmas debts. He went on to say: "But this needn't be the case if you have suitable mechanical breakdown cover in place.

"Top 10 list of components in terms of average cost according to AA Warranty: 1 Replacement engine £2,700 (can be up to £5,000) 2 Replacement gearbox £1,200 3 Engine control unit (ECU) £529 4 Cylinder head gasket £390 5 Alternator £280 6 Starter motor £260 7 Coil pack £180 8 Air flow meter £165 9 Central locking £157 10 Wheel bearings £130