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3 cars ago. 2003 model year 75K miles, never had the CEL come on.
2 cars ago. 2006 model year 172K miles, never had the CEL come on.
Current car. 2014 model year, 110K miles, never a CEL.
The issues I've had have been suspension parts. Worn bushings, worn shocks. Things like that. Engines/trans have been fine and no computer issues.
I think my engine light came on for awhile after I filled my tank with some of that cheap, low octane fuel. I filled it with premium every 100 miles or so for around 300 miles until most of the cheap fuel was gone and things were back to normal. That was years ago. My car is a 2015 Prius (bought in late '14) with 130K miles on it. I've yet to spend a dime on any unscheduled repairs -- only for tires, fuel, oil, wipers and other scheduled maintenance. It's been the most dependable vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned various cars, trucks, motorcycles and airplanes during the past 60 years.
I think it was after a few years with a 1999 Ford Escort. I took it to the dealer and had it fixed for a couple of hundred dollars. I did not notice any difference, but it needed to be fixed.
The check engine light came on in the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am soon after I bought it. I sprayed too much water on the engine when I washed it, and it missed a bit when I started it up. I knew this code would clear itself automatically, so I just waited for that to happen. I was more careful about hosing off the engine after that.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Of the 40+ vehicles I have owned over the years, I have never had one that I bought new ever display a light while I owned it, up to as many as $138,0000 miles. Among those I bought used, there was a 1994 S-10 Blazer at about 110,000, and a 1997 Ford Escort at 168,000. I was able to fix both myself after reading the codes.
On one of my vehicles, the check engine light comes on only in winter and then disappears during the summer. We looked up the code and cleaned up the sensor one winter. A month later the light came on again. When the fuel companies change their mixes to where there is more carbon buildup the engine can't adjust for it and just throws it's hands up in the air. When did it start? ~150,000 miles.
Only time I've had one was on my 2000 Celica at around 200,000 miles when an oxygen sensor was going bad.
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