Car Horror Stories: Road Mishaps You Should Avoid this Undas

Pasig City, Philippines – October 17, 2025 – Undas or All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day, is a time for families to come together, honor loved ones and reconnect with their roots. But for many, it also means long drives, packed highways, and unpredictable road conditions. As thousands of Filipinos prepare to travel to the provinces this season, Prestone®, the #1 Brake Fluid and #1 Coolant in the Philippines, reminds motorists that a safe journey begins with preparation, because road horror stories can creep up on you when you least expect them.

 

From flat tires to overheated engines, here are some of the most common car horror stories that can ruin your Undas trip, and how you can avoid them through proper car preventive maintenance and the right coolant for your car.

 

The flat tire surprise

Image you’re driving to your hometown, and you only have a few kilometers away to reach your destination when you hear a loud thud. You stop and check your car, and it turns out your tire gave up. Whether it’s a nail on the road or a worn-out tire, this classic road mishap can throw off your entire schedule.

 

That is why it’s important to inspect your tires before traveling. Make sure they have proper air pressure and don’t forget to bring a spare tire, jack, and tools. A quick check before the trip can spare you hours of roadside trouble.

 

The lost case of dead batteries

After a short stopover, you return to your car, only to find that it won’t start. A weak or drained battery is a common culprit during long weekends when cars sit idle for days before the trip.

 

Have your battery checked before you travel and clean any corrosion around the terminals. Keeping your lights, dash cameras, and accessories off when parked helps extend battery life. This is a simple car maintenance tip every driver should practice, even on casual daily drives.

 

The broken brakes scare

You’re in heavy traffic when your brakes suddenly feel soft or unresponsive. It’s every driver’s nightmare, and it usually stems from neglected car maintenance which often includes old brake fluid, worn pads, or leaks in the system.

 

Schedule a quick check-up at your nearest car maintenance service centers or talyers. Brake health is non-negotiable, especially on long drives. Remember, it’s always better to prevent than repair.

 

The curious case of stalled engine

You’re halfway through your journey when the car suddenly stalls in the middle of the road. The reason? Old coolant or a system leak that caused the engine to overheat.

 

When you’re far from a mechanic, Prestone Coolant Ready To Use can be a real lifesaver. Formulated with 5X Superior Cooling Protection Guaranteed, it protects your engine from overheating, rust, corrosion, and boilover, ensuring long-lasting protection for key components like the radiator, water pump, thermostat, and aluminum parts.

 

Because it’s pre-diluted and ready to pour, there’s no need to add distilled water or mix. Just top up your coolant anywhere and you’re good to go. Siguradong compatible with all makes and models, even motorcycles, and meets ASTM standards for superior performance.

 

The overheating nightmare

Few things are as stressful as seeing steam rising from your hood in the middle of a long drive. Overheating often happens when drivers skip basic car maintenance or use incompatible coolant for car.

 

Before you hit the road, make sure your car’s engine is protected with Prestone Asian Coolant. Engineered with 5X Superior Cooling Action and Cor-Guard™ Technology, siguradong compatible with your car brand.

 

The Prestone Asian Coolant 1L is available in RED/PINK, BLUE, and GREEN color variants.

 

• RED/PINK COOLANT: For all Toyota®, Lexus®, and Scion® vehicles, all years
• BLUE COOLANT: For all Honda®, Nissan®, Subaru® vehicles, pre-2009 to 2011 & Newer
• GREEN COOLANT: For all Isuzu®, Suzuki®, Hyundai®, KIA®, Mazda® Mitsubishi® vehicles, pre-2009 to 2011 & Newer

 

Turn your Undas trip into memories, not horror stories

As Filipinos gear up for the long Undas weekend, Prestone reminds every driver to take extra precautions before hitting the road. From checking your brakes to topping up your coolant, a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring a smooth and safe journey for you and your loved ones.

 

Don’t let car troubles become your real-life horror story this Undas. Keep your engine cool with Prestone Asian Coolant and Prestone Coolant Ready to Use— siguradong compatible with 5X superior protection your vehicle deserves.

 

Both Prestone Coolants are available at leading automotive stores and retail outlets nationwide, including True Value, Handyman, Ace Hardware, Blade, and online through the official stores on Lazada and Shopee. Prestone also urges customers to purchase only from authorized retailers to ensure product authenticity and vehicle safety.

 

To learn more about Prestone’s full range of products and car preventive maintenance tips, visit www.prestone.com.ph

 

Press Statement of Secretary Ramon Lopez on the Closure of the Honda Car Production Facility in PH

We just learned today the announcement from Honda. We were told that they had to optimize the allocation and distribution of their resources in the region, which led them to decide to close the assembly of Honda City and BR-V models in Sta Rosa Laguna.

In other words, they may be facing challenges in keeping the cost competitiveness of their local assembly operations. We are meeting them on Monday to consider other alternative options so as to minimize the impact of any final decision they will make.

The cost structure of their local car assembly, which has about 380 workers, is basically challenged and there’s no tariff protection, thus making imports of vehicles as a cheaper alternative. Vehicle imports have been growing, causing injury to local industry, from assembly to the local parts supply network in the country.

Thus we really have to study the need to impose safeguard duty and other measures to provide at least a level of support to the local assemblers.

OLX Reveals Most Searched Vehicles and Motorcycles

Wondering which vehicles were trending in 2018? According to leading classifieds portal OLX, the Honda Civic and the Yamaha Mio are the most searched car and motorcycle models, respectively, from January to November 2018.

Known for its performance, durability and versatility, the Honda Civic has been a consistent most-searched vehicle on OLX and has remained as a popular choice in the pre-owned market. It can function as a daily driver and even as a race car. The Japanese car is also popular among enthusiasts who love to pimp their ride.

The Toyota Fortuner comes close as the second most searched and is followed by the Toyota Innova. The other popular models are the Mitsubishi Pajero, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the Toyota Hilux, the Toyota Vios, and the Mitsubishi Lancer. Completing the top 10 most searched list are vans: the Toyota Hiace, and the Hyundai Starex.

Two-wheeled rides are also becoming more popular because of their affordability. And when it comes to the most searched motorbike model, the Yamaha Mio scooter tops the list. Coming in second is the Suzuki Raider, which is known for its powerful engine.

In terms of motorcycle brands, internet users have been curious about aspirational brands Ducati, Vespa, and Harley-Davidson. Kawasaki and Rusi, though not as upscale as the previous brands, are also frontrunners. When it comes to motorcycle body types, many users searched for “scooter” followed by “big bike,” “400cc,” and “café racer.”

The data presented are based on the searches from January 1, 2018 to November 21, 2018 on OLX, the classifieds platform that has the most number of car and motorcycle listings in the Philippines.

“It’s interesting to see which car models the market is looking up online. The most-searched list, which has some regulars and new nameplates, reveals consumers’ preference in 2018. Because of the upswing in motorcycle demand, the first-ever roundup of the most popular motorbike brands and models in terms of search this year is also available,” says Manuel Roman, OLX Philippines’ Head of Cars. “We value our customers’ needs, so we make sure we are leading in both volume and quality of listings. Our platform should be able to help people find the ride they are looking for, whether it’s a car or a motorcycle.”

OLX Philippines is part of the OLX Group, the world’s leading classifieds platform in growth markets. Having 17 brands worldwide, OLX Group is available in more than 40 countries, where its market-leading trading platforms are being used by more than 330 million people monthly.

About OLX

OLX Philippines is part of the OLX Group, the world’s leading classifieds platform in growth markets. It is available in more than 45 countries and over 50 languages. OLX connects local people to buy or sell brand-new and pre-owned items and services by making it fast and easy for anyone to post a listing through their mobile phone or on the web. Every month, hundreds of millions of people in local markets around the world are already using OLX’s online marketplace to find and sell a wide range of products, including furniture, musical instruments, sporting goods, cars, kid and baby items, motorcycles, cameras, mobile phones, property, and much more.

OLX Philippines Reveals Vehicle Types with the Best Resale Value

Is a vehicle’s resale value one of your considerations before purchasing a car? If it is, your best bet is a pickup truck, according to data released by the world’s leading classifieds platform, OLX. Vehicles in this particular classification, on average, take about 9 years to lose 50 percent of their suggested retail price (SRP).

Based on a sampling from OLX’s secondhand car listings in the country from August 2017 to August 2018, the extensive data comprises the top 11 automotive brands based on 2017 sales volume. On average, it takes 5.10 years for a vehicle’s SRP to get slashed to half, according to this sampling. Pickup trucks, multipurpose vehicles (MPVs), and vans, however, performed above average and take more time before they lose 50 percent of their value.

“A number of factors affect the pickup truck’s robust resale value,” says Manuel Roman, OLX Philippines’ Head of Cars. “The versatility and reliability of pickups make them desirable vehicles. In the brand-new vehicle market, light commercial vehicles--one of which is the pickup truck--are popular choices among consumers. In the secondhand market, the demand for pickups remains high. Without an oversupply in the market, they keep their value well.”

Meanwhile, car buyers looking for seven-seaters should consider including MPVs on their shortlist if they want a vehicle that doesn’t depreciate fast. Compared to sport utility vehicles (SUVs), MPVs keep their value longer: It takes 7.06 years on average before they lose half of their SRPs. SUVs, on the other hand, slash their value by 50 percent after 5.04 years. The infographic below shows the average number of years it takes before a particular vehicle classification loses 50 percent of its SRP.

The OLX data shows that on average, three-year-old vehicles retain 62 percent of their SRPs. When automobiles reach their fifth year, they keep 52 percent of their value. On the 10th year, the vehicle’s value becomes 33 percent of its SRP.

OLX Philippines’ analysis of the data found that Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Nissan, and Toyota vehicles do not depreciate as fast as other brands. It takes Mitsubishi and Isuzu vehicles an average of 6.03 years before their price reach 50 percent of their SRP. Nissan-badged vehicles take 6.02 years before they lose half t of their value, while Toyota cars take 5.89 years.

It is important to note that just because a particular brand cuts its SRP by 50 percent earlier than average doesn’t mean it’s a substandard one. One of the factors that can affect a car’s depreciation is demand. The desire for vehicles bearing the badge may not just be as high as the other brands. In addition, o wners of these vehicles may be keeping their cars longer and sell only when the cars are older. Hence, the listings under these brands have relatively lower value compared to other marques.

OLX Philippines connects millions of Filipinos to buy and sell brand-new and used items, including automobiles and motorcycles, via their mobile phones or the web. Every month, around 45,000 vehicle listings are posted on the OLX platform. More than 1.4 million users log in to OLX monthly to check out the cars available or to post one for sale.