19 least reliable cars according to ADAC (2020)

30/05/2020

The German ADAC automobile association regularly publishes a car reliability index according to the number of breakdowns by its yellow angels and the number of defects that have occurred in broken cars.

In the statistics for 2020, all the 3,756,226 breakdowns of ADAC yellow angels and their partners in 2019 were recorded and evaluated. With a total of 113 models of 25 brands, there is enough data available to provide an objective picture of their reliability.

New: The ADAC reliability index 2022

Detailed statistics of vehicle recalls in Europe

A-segment / City car / Minicompact

The clear loser in this category is the Smart ForFour, which has had many defects, especially with the models produced in 2015 and 2016. Even the sibling Smart ForTwo from this period of production is not without faults. There are problems with the starter, automated shifting and battery. The Fiat 500 made in 2014 or 2015 is also not a good choice, it often has problems with the battery and shifting.

Smart ForFour

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
					30,1	31,3	9,8

ForFour Recalls

Smart ForTwo

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
26,3	18,4	20,1	15,7	17,1	32,8	25,4	7,5

ForTwo Recalls

Fiat 500

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
27,2	27	25,9	23,4	26,8	29,5	17,1	7,1

Fiat 500 Recalls

Legend: Number of breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles registered (= breakdown index) by year of first registration (EZ)

B-segment / Supermini / Subcompact

The problem child in this category is the Hyundai i20 from 2011 to 2014. Most of the breakdowns in his case were due to defects in the ignition and spark plugs. The Opel Meriva from 2017 also has an alarming number of breakdowns. These are often associated with the cooling system: leaky hoses and defective water pumps.

Hyundai i20

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
28,5	40,8	45,9	47,2	31,5	9,7	4	3,1

Hyundai Recalls

Opel Meriva

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
28,8	25,2	27	21,9	22,1	16,6	11,9	12,7

Opel Meriva Recalls

Legend: Number of breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles registered (= breakdown index) by year of first registration (EZ)

Vehicle’s history VIN Check

C-segment / Small family / Compact

As in previous years, the Nissan Qashqai is a particularly bad choice. Problems occur in all the monitored production periods from 2010 to 2017. Kia Ceed from the 2011 has the highest total number of breakdowns this year. There is a wide range of different defects – so it is really difficult, if not impossible, to find a good used one. Other models from different production periods also performed badly: in alfabetical order – Ford C-MAX (2010), Ford Kuga (2012), Hyundai i30 (2010), KIA Sportage (2011), Peugeot 308 (2010-12), Renault Kangoo (2015) -17), and Renault Scénic (2014-15).

Nissan Qashqai

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
22,8	25,1	23,7	21,8	17,6	16,8	33,6	42,7

Nissan Qashqai Recalls

Kia Ceed

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
40,9	70,5	49,1	33,3	26,6	12	8,8	3,4

Kia Recalls

Ford C-Max

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
51,8	36	31,4	22,9	16,8	7,9	6,1	3,7

Ford C-Max Recalls

Ford Kuga

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
37,2	29,6	33,8	26,1	20,5	11,9	5,9	5,3

Ford Kuga Recalls

Hyundai i30

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
52,2	35,4	32,3	19,7	15,7	7,7	5,3	2,4

Hyundai i30 Recalls

Kia Sportage

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
	52,4	30,5	23	18,6	13,3	4	1,6

Kia Sportage Recalls

Peugeot 308

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
47,1	44	37,6		26,5	13,6	9,3	6,1

Peugeot 308 Recalls

Renault Kangoo

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
27,5	25,1	20,6	21,1	18,9	19,9	24	16,4

Renault Kangoo Recalls

Renault Scenic

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
35,4	33,5	25,2	18,7	28,6	27,7		7,2

Renault Scénic Recalls

Legend: Number of breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles registered (= breakdown index) by year of first registration (EZ)

If you wish to know more about eventual problems of a specific car (e.g. real mileage, potential traffic accidents damages, odometer rollback, repairs, etc.), then we suggest going to HPI-Check.

Check the vehicle’s history

D-segment / Large family / Mid-size

The middle class also includes the MPVs Ford S-Max, Seat Alhambra and VW Sharan with a high frequency of breakdowns. With the Ford S-Max, not only does the battery fail frequently, but also the particle filter, the fuel pump or the generator. The poor result with the Seat Alhambra and VW Sharan is mostly caused by problems with the exhaust gas recirculation. The Opel Insignia from 2015-2016 is not a good choice either.

Ford S-Max

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
56,9	26,2	21,8	16,9	13,4		20,9	10,8

Ford S-Max Recalls

Seat Alhambra

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
			36,9	38,5	18,2	12,9	14,4

Seat Alhambra Recalls

VW Sharan

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
	39	27,1	40,6	36,2	19	10,1	12,1

VW Sharan Recalls

Opel Insignia

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
38,7	35,4	29,2	31,7	26,1	29,5	22,6	10,7

Opel Insignia Recalls

Legend: Number of breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles registered (= breakdown index) by year of first registration (EZ)

E-segment / Executive / Full-size

The nine and ten-year-old Mercedes E-Classes have given off a bad picture. Problems with components such as the starter, the ignition lock and the battery add up to worn hoses and defects in the steering. The balance only improves the E-Classes from the year of production between 2013 and 2014.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

EZ 2010	EZ 2011	EZ 2012	EZ 2013	EZ 2014	EZ 2015	EZ 2016	EZ 2017
59,3	49,1	31,8	17,7	12,1	10,9	7,2	1,7

Mercedes E-Class Recalls

Legend: Number of breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles registered (= breakdown index) by year of first registration (EZ)

All the makes and models can be found here

Source: ADAC

Where now?

What should an owner do if there's a recall?

Please note that the recall may not apply to all vehicles produced in a given period. If you think your car might be affected, you should immediately contact an dealer or workshop officially authorised to perform repairs on behalf of the manufacturer and ask for the details. You can use our sample request text. After reporting the vehicle's VIN code, you will find out if the defect is present on your car, or if it has already been resolved by the previous owner if the car was purchased second-hand.

More about

Recalls and Reliability

If you wish to know more about the eventual problems of a specific car (e.g. real mileage, potential traffic accident damages, odometer rollback, repairs, etc.), in that case, we suggest going to this page.

Check the vehicle's history