Saturated filter, exhaust leak and worn suspension are among the common mechanical problems that take a toll on the health of those who drive
That strange smell when turning on the air conditioning, the back pain at the end of the day, a tiredness that does not go away. These are symptoms that many drivers blame for traffic stress, however, they can be caused by the car itself. Several components that seem harmless when fulfilling their function in the vehicle, but actually have a direct effect on the health of those who drive and most of these problems only appear when they have already become a medical complaint.
In this article you can see five simple and very common oversights that could be easily solved in the workshop, but that end up making the visit to the doctor’s office more expensive.
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Responsible for blocking dust, pollen and pollution before the air reaches the lungs, the cabin filter loses efficiency as it saturates. From then on, mites and particles that are not visible to the naked eye start to circulate freely in the cabin, which is a classic trigger for rhinitis and asthma attacks.
Asbai (Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology) estimates that about 30% of Brazilians live with some type of allergy, a portion for whom the problem is even more sensitive. The recommendation is to change the part every 10 km, or according to the manual and if you drive in a dusty region, do it in advance.
Even with the new filter, the system has another trap: the humidity that forms in the evaporator and becomes fertile ground for fungi and bacteria. That’s where that musty odor comes from when you turn on the air conditioning.
In extreme cases, this odor can also indicate the presence of microorganisms such as Legionella, associated with severe respiratory conditions. Here the solution is not to change a part, but to periodically clean the evaporator and ducts. The recommendation is that cleaning be done every 6 to 12 months with a specific product and labor.
Those who spend the day behind the wheel and end up with lower back pain rarely suspect the seat, however, an inadequate posture and a wrong adjustment overload the spine. In the long run, these incorrect positions, according to recurring warnings from entities such as the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (SBOT), favor low back pain and even herniated discs.
The ideal ergonomic fit requires:
In the case of this part, the risk is no longer chronic and becomes immediate, as a crack or failure in the exhaust system can direct carbon monoxide (CO) into the cabin. At first, this colorless and odorless gas causes headache, dizziness and drowsiness, but can lead to loss of consciousness and even death, according to alerts from emergency services such as Samu.
This happened to four young people who were found dead inside a BMW in Balneário Camboriú (SC), in 2024. The preliminary investigation pointed out that the deaths were caused by a perforation in the exhaust pipe, linked to a modification made in a workshop.
Prevention for this dangerous oblemma involves reviewing the exhaust system and being suspicious of any combustion smell or feeling of discomfort with the car running.
Constant shaking is not just discomfort, it can also harm your health. The so-called whole-body vibration, which has parameters defined by Fundacentro in the Occupational Hygiene Standards and is provided for in Annex 8 of NR-15, is associated with fatigue, joint pain and back problems in those who drive a lot.
Unbalanced tires, misaligned wheels, and end-of-life shock absorbers are among the causes of these symptoms, as they amplify what reaches the body. Balancing, alignment, and changing the suspension at the right time solve the problem before it becomes a medical complaint.
