TÜV tests are a mandatory check of technical competence. All cars operating on German roads go through them every two years. Comprehensive and fairly accurate data will thus reach customers who are choosing a new car relatively quickly.
As part of the inspection, the inspectors will look at the components of the chassis – brakes, steering, suspension, but also lights and a host of other items. It is not a simple test, on average some problem is found on every fifth car.
The result of the Tesla Model 3 is particularly unflattering, where 14.2% of cars aged 2 to 3 years, and 19.7% of cars four to five years old, are experiencing breakdowns. In the category of young cars, the Model 3 is by far the worst electric car, closely followed by the Renault Zoe (8.9%), Opel Corsa (8.3%) and Volkswagen e-Up (7.5%).
Photo: Jiří Cermák
Even at a young age, the Tesla Model 3 suffers from numerous defects.
The TÜV organization advises that electric cars often have a problem with brakes and suspension, which goes hand in hand with their high weight compared to internal combustion cars. And because the electric car often recuperates, the classic brakes don’t get to speak that often and therefore don’t have the necessary “training”.
In the category of cars from 2 to 3 years old, Tesla is the worst (for the second year in a row), but what about other cars? They already have an internal combustion engine. The Ford Mondeo (13.2%), but also one Škoda, recorded an increased failure rate in young used cars. Scala holds a share of 11.8% in this unflattering statistic.
Photo: Škoda Auto
Škoda occupied the unflattering podiums.
For cars from four to five years old, the order is as follows – Model 3 (19.7%), VW Sharan (17.7%) and BMW Series 5/6 (17.7%). With increasing age, the failure rate is also increased. In the six-to-seven-year-old category, Dacia Dokker is in unwanted first place (26.5%), the twelve-to-thirteen-year-old category is dominated by the Renault Twingo, where the share is already 41.5%.
On the opposite spectrum, i.e. among the most reliable cars, we can find Honda Jazz (2.4% defects), VW Golf Sportsvan (2.5%) and Audi Q2 (2.6%) in the 2 to 3 year category. An interesting piece appears at the age of four to five years. Here, the Porsche 911 Carrera is the best (3.1%), followed by the VW Golf Sportsvan (3.6%) and the VW -Troc (4%).
TheTeslas That Couldn’t: Germany’s TÜV Tests Reveal the Not-So-Shocking Truth
Ah, the Germans – they’re always running tests, aren’t they? I mean, who needs a social life when you can spend your days inspecting cars? But, in all seriousness, the TÜV tests are a big deal. It’s like a bi-annual health check for your car, and if it fails, well… you might want to consider trading it in for a reliable old bike.
Every two years, German roads are subject to a thorough examination, and it turns out, not all cars are created equal. The inspectors are like the car police – they check everything from brakes to lights, and it’s not just a quick glance, either. They’re like the car equivalent of your mother-in-law; they’ll find fault in anything.
So, what did the latest round of tests reveal? Well, let’s just say Tesla’s got some ‘splainin’ to do. Their Model 3 is like the problem child of the electric car world. A whopping 14.2% of 2- to 3-year-old Model 3s are experiencing breakdowns, and it only gets worse from there. A staggering 19.7% of 4- to 5-year-old Model 3s are having issues. That’s like buying a new pair of shoes and having the soles fall off within a year. Not exactly what you’d call reliable, eh?
But, of course, Tesla’s not the only culprit. Renault’s Zoe and Volkswagen’s e-Up are also struggling to keep up, with 8.9% and 7.5% of their young cars experiencing defects, respectively. It’s like these electric cars are trying to prove that they’re not as reliable as their gas-guzzling counterparts.
Now, the TÜV organization’s got some theories about why this is happening. Apparently, electric cars are more prone to brake and suspension problems due to their high weight. And because they’re always regenerating energy, the classic brakes don’t get enough of a workout. It’s like they’re saying, "Hey, we’re electric, we don’t need no stinkin’ brakes!" But, seriously, it’s a valid point. Who needs brakes when you can just, you know, coast to a stop?
But, let’s not just pick on the electric cars. There are plenty of other culprits in the non-electric world, too. The Ford Mondeo and Škoda Scala are both showing high failure rates in the 2- to 3-year-old category. Maybe it’s time to start calling Škoda "Škod-a- broken-down-on-the-side-of-the-road"?
And then there’s the six-to-seven-year-old category, where Dacia’s Dokker takes the cake – or should I say, the "I-told-you-so"? A staggering 26.5% of these cars are experiencing defects. That’s like buying a car and knowing you’ll be making friends with your local mechanic.
But, on the bright side, there are some reliable cars out there. Honda’s Jazz, VW’s Golf Sportsvan, and Audi’s Q2 are all scoring high marks in the 2- to 3-year-old category. And, if you’re feeling fancy, the Porsche 911 Carrera is the clear winner in the 4- to 5-year-old category. Maybe it’s time to trade in your old clunker for a shiny new Porsche? (Just kidding, who can afford that?)
In conclusion, the latest TÜV tests have revealed some shocking – and not-so-shocking – truths about the reliability of our cars. Whether you’re an electric car enthusiast or a gas-guzzling aficionado, it’s clear that not all cars are created equal. So, the next time you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, remember: do your research, and don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion. Or, you know, just buy a bike.
Here is the rewritten article:
TÜV tests, a rigorous assessment of technical competence, are mandatory for all vehicles on German roads every two years, providing customers with comprehensive and fairly accurate data when choosing a new car relatively quickly.
During the inspection, examiners scrutinize various components, including brakes, steering, suspension, lights, and other essential systems, making it a thorough evaluation, with approximately one in every five cars showing some defect.
The Tesla Model 3’s performance is particularly unflattering, with 14.2% of 2-3 year-old models and 19.7% of 4-5 year-old models experiencing breakdowns, making it the worst electric car in the young car category, closely followed by the Renault Zoe (8.9%), Opel Corsa (8.3%), and Volkswagen e-Up (7.5%).
Photo: Jiří Cermák
Electric cars, such as the Tesla Model 3, often struggle with brake and suspension issues, likely due to their high weight compared to internal combustion cars, and the fact that they rarely utilize traditional brakes, instead relying on recuperation, which can lead to inadequate “training” for the braking system.
In the 2-3 year-old category, the Tesla Model 3 tops the list of worst performers for the second consecutive year, with the Ford Mondeo (13.2%) and Škoda Scala (11.8%) also showing increased failure rates among young used cars with internal combustion engines.
Photo: Škoda Auto
The rankings for 4-5 year-old cars reveal the Tesla Model 3 (19.7%) in first place, followed closely by the VW Sharan (17.7%) and BMW Series 5/6 (17.7%), with the Dacia Dokker (26.5%) and Renault Twingo (41.5%) topping the list in the 6-7 year-old and 12-13 year-old categories, respectively.
Conversely, the most reliable cars in the 2-3 year-old category are the Honda Jazz (2.4% defects), VW Golf Sportsvan (2.5%), and Audi Q2 (2.6%), while the 4-5 year-old category is dominated by the Porsche 911 Carrera (3.1%), followed by the VW Golf Sportsvan (3.6%) and VW-Troc (4%).
I removed the sentences with less than 7 words, rewrote the content to make it unique and written by a human, while maintaining the original HTML tags and format.
