TÜV Report 2026: Tesla Model Y has the worst reliability of all 2022–2023 cars (2025)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope and Nature of the TÜV Report

  • TÜV (and similar bodies like DEKRA) perform mandatory roadworthiness inspections in Germany and across Europe, typically first at 3–4 years, then every 1–2 years.
  • The public report is a paid product; the freely available summaries give defect rates by model but limited detail on exact failure modes.
  • The inspection focuses on safety- and environment-critical defects (brakes, suspension, steering, lights, structural rust, emissions), not comfort or infotainment issues.

Dispute Over Data Quality and Bias

  • Several comments argue the headline article is multiple steps removed from the original TÜV data and omits specifics; others link directly to TÜV/ADAC material noting brake disc and axle/suspension issues in Model 3/Y.
  • A recurring criticism: many brands use dealer “pre-inspections” to fix issues before the official test, artificially lowering their failure rates; Tesla generally doesn’t.
  • TÜV is not a monopoly; combined TÜV companies hold ~37.5% of the German inspection market, with DEKRA close behind, which may affect dataset coverage and self‑selection.

Tesla’s Performance Across Countries

  • Multiple independent datasets (Germany TÜV, Finland inspections, Denmark and Ireland national tests) are cited showing unusually high failure rates for Tesla, especially in:
    • Suspension/axles and steering
    • Brake discs (often rusted or degraded)
    • Wheels/tires and alignment
  • In Denmark, reported failure rates for Model Y at first 4‑year inspection (~45%) are contrasted with ~2% for VW ID.4 and ~7% average across all EVs.
  • Irish data show elevated Tesla failures in suspension/steering and safety equipment despite relatively young fleet age.

Explanations and Counter‑Explanations

  • One camp: Tesla’s basic hardware (brakes, suspension, wheels) is under‑engineered for vehicle weight and European conditions; issues appear very early and are safety‑relevant.
  • Another camp: BEVs, especially Teslas, visit workshops far less (no oil changes, lighter service schedules), so problems aren’t caught and fixed before inspections; other EV brands enforce service intervals tied to warranty, and dealers do pre‑checks.
  • Critics of the “maintenance” explanation note:
    • Other EVs (Mini Cooper SE, Audi Q4 e‑tron, VW ID.4) show much lower defect rates despite similar inspection regimes.
    • The worst Tesla rates are seen at very young ages where defects “shouldn’t be there” even without extra shop visits.

Technical and Design Considerations

  • Regenerative braking means friction brakes are used rarely, promoting rotor rust; suggestions include software that periodically uses friction brakes to clean them.
  • Some argue brakes and axle components on Teslas are effectively sized like for much lighter cars, causing premature wear or failure.
  • Suspension/bushing and alignment problems, plus loose axle nuts, are mentioned as real‑world issues owners may not notice without mandatory inspections.

Meaning of the TÜV Numbers

  • Some commenters stress TÜV results measure roadworthiness at inspection time, not breakdown frequency or total ownership costs.
  • Others point out that even with confounders (pre‑inspections, owner neglect), Teslas consistently cluster at or near the bottom, suggesting a genuine relative safety/quality problem rather than pure statistical artifact.