TÜV Report 2025: Which cars are most likely to fail inspection?

According to the latest TÜV Report 2025, every fifth car in Germany fails its technical inspection. The main reasons are serious or dangerous defects that render vehicles unroadworthy. Since the registered vehicle fleet is almost identical across Europe, this data is also highly relevant for other European buyers interested in the reliability of used cars. As usual, we have included links to vehicle recalls for all assessed models.

The TÜV Report 2025 is based on nearly 10.2 million technical inspections carried out in Germany between July 2023 and June 2024, offering some interesting results. Among the most reliable cars are the Honda Jazz and the iconic Porsche 911 Carrera, while electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3 or some older Dacia models perform significantly worse. Even manufacturers like BMW, Volkswagen, or Skoda did not fare well in certain categories.

The 228 models evaluated were divided into six age categories (see below). Due to the increasing age of vehicles registered in Germany, a group for 12- to 13-year-old vehicles was included for the first time last year.

• Vehicle recalls by make and model

TÜV Report 2025: The older the vehicle, the higher the defects rate

Of the total number of inspected vehicles, 67.9% passed without any issues, while 20.6% had serious defects. Generally, the older the vehicle, the higher the defect rate – among 12- to 13-year-old cars, 28.1% had major defects, compared to just 6.4% of two- to three-year-old vehicles. Over 15,000 vehicles were taken off the road during the reporting period as they were deemed “dangerous to operate.” The main causes included brake issues, steering problems, or corrosion of structural components.

The highest rating among two- to three-year-old cars was earned by the small but reliable Honda Jazz. This model not only topped its category but also became the overall winner of the TÜV Report 2025, boasting the lowest defect rate during technical inspections (just 2.4%). In this category, some may find it surprising that two Skoda models performed poorly. Among the five worst performers, alongside the aforementioned Tesla Model 3 (14.2%), were the Skoda Superb and Scala (both over 11%).

The annual TÜV Report 2025 reveals the reliability of used cars and serves as a valuable guide for anyone planning to purchase a second-hand vehicle.

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TÜV Report 2025 reliability by vehicle age

The tables below show the percentage of vehicles that failed the technical inspection (HU) due to “significant” or “dangerous defects.” Cars marked in green are considered a good choice, while those highlighted in red should be approached with caution. However, it is important to remember that regular maintenance and care can significantly influence the outcome. Even a less reliable model can be in good technical condition and serve well thanks to a diligent owner.

Other models, ranging from light green to orange in the colour scale, can be found in the full table linked below the individual summaries.

TÜV Report 2025: The Stars and the flops

✅ Year of production 2021 and 2022

* Click on the name of the car to view its recalls

Best 2-3 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
1	Honda Jazz	2,4	28
2	VW Golf Sportsvan	2,5	31
3	Audi Q2	2,6	33
	Porsche 911 Carrera	2,6	21
5	Mitsubishi ASX	2,7	40
6	Mercedes-Benz B-Class	2,9	36
	VW T-Roc	2,9	34
8	Mercedes-Benz GLC	3,3	53
9	VW e-Golf	3,4	32
10	Hyundai Tucson	3,5	37
	Suzuki Vitara	3,5	33

Worst 2-3 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
102	VW Passat	10,1	70
103	Peugeot 308	10,3	51
104	Opel Crossland	10,4	28
	VW Caddy	10,4	54
106	Ford Focus	10,6	52
107	Ford S-Max	11,3	70
	Škoda Superb	11,3	70
109	Škoda Scala	11,8	43
110	Ford Mondeo	13,2	72
111	Tesla Model 3	14,2	53

Full table TÜV 2025 (2 – 3 years)

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✅ Year of production 2019 and 2020

* Click on the name of the car to view its recalls

Best 4-5 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
1	Porsche 911 Carrera	3,1	29
2	VW Golf Sportsvan	3,6	49
3	VW T-Roc	4,0	53
4	Audi Q2	4,5	53
	Mercedes-Benz B-Class	4,5	50
6	VW e-Golf	4,6	44
7	Audi A3	5,0	60
	Hyundai ix20	5,0	40
	Mercedes-Benz GLC	5,0	69
10	Toyota RAV4	5,1	61

Worst 4-5 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
104	Opel Crossland	15,7	43
105	Dacia Duster	16,2	58
106	Dacia Dokker	16,7	62
107	Dacia Logan	16,8	63
108	BMW X1	17,4	61
109	Seat Alhambra	17,5	76
110	BMW 2 Active Tourer	17,6	63
111	BMW 5/6	17,7	89
112	VW Sharan	18,5	83
113	Tesla Model 3	19,7	74

Full table TÜV 2025 (4 – 5 years)

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✅ Year of production 2017 and 2018

* Click on the name of the car to view its recalls

Best 6-7 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
1	Porsche 911 Carrera	3,1	40
2	VW T-Roc	6,0	72
3	Mazda CX-3	6,6	69
4	VW Golf Sportsvan	6,8	70
5	Mercedes-Benz B-Class	7,4	71
6	Audi Q2	7,7	71
7	Honda Jazz	8,4	57
	Seat Ateca	8,4	86
9	Mazda 2	8,7	67
10	Audi A3	9,1	89

Worst 6-7 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
96	Dacia Sandero	19,7	69
97	Renault Zoe	19,9	61
98	BMW X5/X6	20,4	121
99	VW Sharan	20,8	116
100	Seat Alhambra	20,9	110
101	BMW 2 Active Tourer	21,2	89
102	Dacia Logan	22,3	91
103	BMW 5/6	23,6	111
104	Dacia Duster	24,3	81
105	Dacia Dokker	26,5	89

Full table TÜV 2025 (6 – 7 years)

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✅ Year of production 2015 and 2016

* Click on the name of the car to view its recalls

Best 8-9 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
1	Porsche 911 Carrera	4,0	51
2	VW Golf Sportsvan	10,0	89
3	Mazda 2	10,6	82
4	Suzuki Vitara	11,0	95
5	Mercedes-Benz B-Class	11,1	91
6	Mercedes-Benz ML/GLE	11,8	141
7	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	12,0	103
8	Audi A3	12,7	113
9	Honda Jazz	13,1	79
10	Mitsubishi ASX	13,3	104

Worst 8-9 year old cars

89	Ford Focus	24,2	122
90	Citroën C3	24,8	82
91	Renault Clio	25,7	90
92	Ford Ka	25,8	76
93	Renault Megane	26,1	122
94	BMW 5/6	27,9	159
95	Dacia Logan	28,3	112
96	Dacia Sandero	28,6	89
97	Dacia Duster	29,7	101
98	Dacia Dokker	30,9	113

Full table TÜV 2025 (8 – 9 years)

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✅ Year of production 2013 and 2014

* Click on the name of the car to view its recalls

Best 10-11 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
1	Porsche 911 Carrera	5,6	65
2	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	14,7	120
3	Mercedes-Benz B-Class	14,8	108
4	VW Touareg	15,1	176
5	Audi A3	15,9	132
6	VW Golf Plus	16,2	99
7	Honda Jazz	16,6	94
8	Mercedes-Benz ML/GLE	16,9	169
9	Mitsubishi ASX	17,1	127
10	Mini	17,3	103

Worst 10-11 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
85	Ford Mondeo	30,4	184
86	Hyundai i30	30,5	120
87	Dacia Sandero	30,7	105
	Nissan Micra	30,7	87
89	Nissan Qashqai	31,2	130
90	Citroën C3	31,9	106
91	Renault Megane	32,7	136
92	Renault Twingo	33,0	92
93	Dacia Duster	34,1	122
94	Dacia Logan	39,6	132

Full table TÜV 2025 (10 – 11 years)

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✅ Year of production 2011 and 2012

* Click on the name of the car to view its recalls

Best 12-13 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
1	Porsche 911 Carrera	7,9	71
2	Mitsubishi ASX	19,6	146
3	VW Golf Plus	20,6	115
4	Audi Q5	20,8	177
	VW Touareg	20,8	204
6	BMW X1	21,0	148
7	Mini	21,2	117
8	Volvo XC60	21,9	194
9	Toyota RAV4	22,1	145
10	Audi Q3	22,6	142

Worst 12-13 year old cars

Order	Make/Model	Faults (%)
73	Dacia Duster	35,6	135
74	Citroën C3	35,7	110
	Peugeot 207	35,7	113
76	Fiat Panda	36,2	102
77	Nissan Qashqai	36,3	146
78	Renault Megane	36,5	148
79	Dacia Sandero	39,4	118
80	Renault Clio	39,8	116
81	Dacia Logan	41,0	146
82	Renault Twingo	41,5	110

Full table TÜV 2025 (12 – 13 years)

Source: autobild.de
Photo: tuvsud.com