The extremely important reliability rating of used cars from Germany is now a fact, providing a ruthless assessment of the market. The data, collected by the famous organization TÜV SÜD, which is behind the technical inspections in the country, highlights clear favorites and outright outsiders.
After analyzing the results of inspections of a colossal 9.5 million cars in 2024-2025, experts found that Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen continue to hold stable positions at the forefront. On the other side of the spectrum, however, Tesla's electric models proved to be the most problematic and took an unenviable last place.
„Black Sheep“ of the electric revolution: Tesla Model Y
The key indicator in this study is the percentage of serious malfunctions and defects, which, by the way, has increased alarmingly - from 20.6% last year to 21.5% on average this year.
It is in this column that the Tesla Model Y failed most loudly, earning the title of "the most unreliable car" according to German standards. Even among relatively new cars (2-3 years old), a staggering 17.2% of these electric crossovers had serious breakdowns. Its sibling, the Tesla Model 3 sedan, also fails to shine, reporting 13.1% of problematic specimens.
In contrast, in the separate ranking for electric cars, the Mini Cooper SE (only 3.5% defects) and the Audi Q4 e-tron (4%) showed that electromobility can be synonymous with trouble-free.
Winners by age group: German engineering dominates
The rating is extremely useful, as it provides detailed information for different age categories, which helps every potential buyer of a used car to make an informed choice.
Most reliable cars 2-3 years old:
In this category, the following stand out:
Subcompact: Fiat 500e
Small: Mazda 2
Compact: BMW 1 Series
Mid-range: Mercedes C-Class
Crossovers: Volkswagen T-Roc
Minivans: Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Reliability on older models:
The Volkswagen T-Roc is particularly impressive, proving to be the absolute champion in years 2 to 7. It is also seen that some Dacia and Renault models face challenges as they reach older ages, while luxury cars such as the BMW 5 Series and 6 Series also have their weak points in the older categories.
In conclusion, the German rating serves as a good guide for anyone planning to invest in a used car. While Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen continue to hold the flag of long-term reliability, the electric segment, especially Tesla's, clearly still has some steep hills to climb in terms of build quality and trouble-free operation.