Overheating-related callouts increase 21%
The AA has reported it attended 21% more overheating-related callouts last week than the same week in 2025.
This comes after its survey of 12,500 drivers found that 63% of drivers want both a traditional engine temperature gauge and an overheating warning light on their dashboard.
Meanwhile, just 15% would prefer an overheating warning light on its own and 14% favour a temperature gauge alone.
The preference for having both systems was consistent across all age groups. Men were slightly more likely than women to favour the combination (64% compared with 60%), while women were twice as likely to prefer a warning light alone (22% versus 11%).
Dashboard
Tony Rich, AA head of road safety, said: “Your dashboard is effectively having a conversation with you. Understanding what it’s trying to tell you can be the difference between arriving at your destination and waiting for assistance at the roadside.
“Many modern cars only tell you there’s a problem once it’s already developed, which is why so many drivers still value having both a temperature gauge and an overheating warning light.
“The warning light is there to protect your engine, not to be ignored. If it comes on, find somewhere safe to stop, switch off the engine and allow it to cool. Carrying on regardless can turn a simple repair into major engine damage.”
