Is the average American buying a new car or new to them car every 4 years? Last I checked, new car loan terms are 3-5 years.
They took a degree that doesn't pay as much as they'd expect, or maybe they are just poor planners that don't care about the future. These are exactly the types that you would expect to take on high risk behaviors for smaller rewards. There's nothing wrong with that, except for claiming that it was the only option they had. Certainly they (and many others) have plenty of options. Some have the habit of making poor decisions until they paint themselves into a corner.
average is 65 months for new cars
https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/buying-a-car-what-te...
I get it - I once had a car loan too; it wasn't even a new car (but I bought it from an actual dealer, so it wasn't some weird sketchy loan). Paid it off, had the car for a while, then it died and I moved on. That was the last car I financed, too.
Since then, my wife and I only pay cash for used cars, and spend the extra money normally used for payments, for maintenance and upgrades on the vehicles (upgrades are on my side, mostly - I own a Jeep Wrangler - don't own one unless you like to throw money into a hole - but it's more fun than a boat, so there's that).
We own our cars for as many years as we can, until it becomes more expensive to repair than to buy something else. But, there again, I think my wife will keep hers for as long as parts can be found for it (2013 Outback - solid vehicle), and I'll keep my Jeep until I can no longer get into it from age (then I'll probably just delete the lift and put regular tires on it).
My VehiCROSS on the other hand...I'll cry the day I sell it, unless it's at a car show auction should it ever become a collectible. Heck - I'll still cry - I love that truck.