Since the basic built-in-test, prognostic health management (PHM) has evolved into more sophisticated and complex systems with advanced warning and failure detection devices. Aerospace and military systems, manufacturing equipment, structural monitoring, automotive electronic systems and telecommunication systems are examples of fields in which PHM has been fully utilized. Nowadays, the automotive electronic system has become more sophisticated and increasingly dependent on accurate sensors and reliable microprocessors to perform vehicle control functions which help to detect faults and to predict the remaining useful life of automotive parts. As the complication of automotive system increases, the need for intelligent PHM becomes more significant. Given enormous potential to be developed lays ahead, this paper presents findings and discussions on the trends of automotive PHM research with the expectation to offer opportunity for further improving the current technologies and methods to be applied into more advanced applications.