Between July 2022 and the end of June 2023, around one in five vehicles failed the roadworthiness test. A good 20.5 percent of the cars examined were on the road with "significant" or "dangerous" defects during the period, according to the TÜV association. This was 0.3 percentage points more than in the same period of the previous year.
In the case of around 15,000 cars, the defects found were so significant that they were classified as "unsafe for traffic" and immediately shut down, it said. According to the report, around 10.2 million general inspections were evaluated.
Electric vehicles are also affected by defects. The focus was on the axle suspensions, which are exposed to greater loads due to the higher weight of the cars. The recovery of energy also affects the function of the brakes and can lead to limited use. The TÜV therefore recommends regular hard braking to prevent wear.
In view of the increasing electrification and digitalisation of the vehicle fleet, the association is calling for a further development of the general inspection. Above all, additional test points are needed. "Testing organizations need better access to safety-related vehicle data to be able to check the condition of the battery and other components," it said.