We bet after seeing people rebuild cars they retrieved from the barn or scrap yard, you’ve concluded, as we have, that it’s never too late to save a car. No car is really far gone in the sense that it’s utterly hopeless. If you’re willing to invest the time and money, with emphasis on “time” and “money,” you can pretty much reincarnate a scrap.

In fact, we dare say whoever paid $1.6 million for the burnt and charred remains of a Ferrari 500 Mondial during a Sotheby’s Monterey auction in August last year can reincarnate it if they so wish. They may need the services of collision repair specialists like CELETTE.

That said, a car can be so far gone in the sense that it no longer makes financial or safety sense to keep them on the road. There comes a point when repairs become impractical or economically unfeasible. You can make smarter decisions about repairs or replacements if you catch the signs on time. Be mindful of these 10 warning signs.

Severe Rust Damage

Never buy a car with severe rust issues, and it’s time to begin saving for a new car if you have one in that condition. There’s only so much that makes financial sense you can do about a car suffering from a rust outbreak in the body, suspension mounts, frame, floorboard, or structural parts.

Your safety and the safety of your passengers and other road users are at stake at this point unless you’re willing to replace large swaths of the car’s body or chassis. We guarantee the cost of attempting such repairs exceeds the car’s value. It’s a bright red warning sign a car is too far gone because it compromises its structural integrity.

Constant Overheating

This is one of the main reasons we insist on a test drive when buying a used car, no matter how neat and sound the car looks and sounds. Tread with caution if you notice overheating after an hour or two of test-driving a car you intend to buy.

It doesn’t matter that the car has less than 100k on the odometer; frequent overheating signals severe internal issues we bet you have no desire to deal with. What could be the problem? The radiator, water pump, head gasket, or cylinders; problems with any of these can cause constant overheating and, over time, warp engine components like seals and cylinder heads.

We’re not saying dump your car at the first sign of overheating. But if repairs don’t seem to fix it, you most likely have underlying issues in your hands that’d cost too much for the car’s market value.

Blown Head Gasket

Fixing a blown gasket out of pocket is one of the most expensive repairs you can undertake, especially if the damage is due to contaminated coolant or overheating issues or if it causes additional damage after being left for too long.

As the seal between the block and head, a blown gasket can cause coolant to leak into the engine, leading to overheating and warped or cracked engine components.

Transmission Failure

The Nissan Murano has earned a bad reputation mainly because of its problematic CVT transmission. It’s too terrible a trouble spot for any brand to survive unscathed. Even though Nissan has reportedly worked to improve its CVT systems, including extending the warranty, the sour experience from the early models has left the Murano with a clinging stink.

The reason is obvious: Rebuilding or replacing the transmission is typically extremely expensive, and it doesn’t help that transmission failures always require a full rebuild or outright replacement. We won’t be surprised if the cost surpasses the car’s value. So, you get the message if those grinding noises, slipping, or rough shifting persists.

Extremely High Mileage

Here’s one for you: “Why did the high-mileage car break up with the mechanic? It got tired and wanted to make some miles alone.” This joke is probably not funny to you because it describes your situation. You’ve got a car with 300k to 400k miles on the odometer, which you know is a good thing and which you also know signals the impending end of the car’s service life.

This car is tired of visiting the mechanic because the chances of the repair costs outweighing the remaining life expectancy are too high. At this point, the owner often decides to manage until it’s finally over and thanks the car for a life of service – hopefully, after 500k miles or more. So, why did the Toyota Corolla apply for a job at the library? It had lots of volumes to share.

Persistent Electrical Issues

Many people speak from experience when they say they’re better off with the worst mechanical issues than to have to grapple with electrical ones. Similarly, there’s a reason even mechanics tell people to steer clear of flood cars.

You can’t predict the problems you’ll face in the future, and the issues often spread like cancer to other parts of the car. When you start to experience chronic electrical issues related to the car’s safety systems or drivetrain, treat it as a death toll for your car or a failing system beyond repair.

Frame Damage from Accidents

Avoid cars with compromised structural integrity like a plaque. Place equal importance on spotting accidental cars as stolen ones when running the VIN on a car you intend to buy. We’re not saying avoid cars with minor accidents or that you must start saving to buy a new car after a little fender bender. It goes without saying that a major accident that leaves the car’s frame compromised is a serious safety issue due to impaired structural integrity.

The cost of “fixing” and using it as is can be beyond what money can buy. Of course, you can fully restore your car’s backbone with the right equipment and repair shop, but the cost is almost guaranteed to outweigh the car’s value.

Uncontrollable Oil Leaks

This is why we encourage people to check the engine bay – to get on their hands and knees and look under the car for signs of oil leaks when buying a used car. Most cases of constant oil leaks are due to severe engine wear and a sign of impending engine failure.

It’s a pretty good sign your car is too far gone once addressing oil leaks starts to feel like a game of whack a mole. Worn seals, bad gaskets, cracks in the engine block: None of these is good news. It shows the engine is pretty much at the end of its life.

Severe Engine Damage

A seized engine is every car owner’s worst nightmare, especially those who drive used cars with unreliable engines. It refers to a situation where engine components get stuck or frozen ­– they just lock up and quit working. This typically happens due to oil starvation, overheating, or severe mechanical failure.

You’ll need extensive repairs or outright engine replacement at this point. Similarly, severe engine damage, such as broken rods or pistons, is a death sentence for many cars as it causes catastrophic damage to the block or cylinder heads. It often no longer makes financial sense to fix the car at this point.

Non-Functioning Safety Systems

More than five decades ago, Uncle Sam introduced the Highway Safety Act of 1970 to “help reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the nation’s highways.” We can help Uncle help us by retiring cars with crucial safety features like airbags or brakes that are beyond repair.

Any car with a compromised ability to protect passengers and even other road users in a crash is too far gone for repairs. Ensure your ABS (antilock braking system), traction control, and others are working optimally. The NHTSA says an estimated 600,000 lives have been saved since 1960 due to improved safety technologies alone.