Tesla has once again found itself at the center of unpleasant statistics: according to the large-scale TÜV-2026 report, the Model Y has become the least reliable car among all vehicles aged 2-3 years that underwent inspection in Germany. No model has performed worse in the last decade.
TÜV analyzed the results of 9.5 million technical inspections conducted from July 2024 to June 2025. The 2-3 year age group is considered the most indicative: the cars are still relatively new, with relatively low mileage, and therefore, the detected defects are characteristic of the design itself, not wear and tear or lack of maintenance. In this segment, the Mazda2, Mercedes B-Class, and VW T-Roc demonstrated only about 3% serious malfunctions. Among electric cars, the Mini Cooper SE, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Fiat 500e performed best.
Tesla’s results turned out to be diametrically opposite. The Model 3 showed 13.1% serious defects, but the Model Y set an absolute anti-record – 17.3%. This is the worst indicator not only among electric vehicles but among all cars in the sample. For comparison, even the affordable Dacia Spring demonstrated a higher level of reliability. TÜV does not detail the specific types of malfunctions, but experts suggest that key factors may be the load on the suspension due to the large battery mass and corrosion of brake discs, which are used less frequently due to regeneration.
Despite these results, the Model Y remains one of the most popular electric cars in Europe and Ukraine. However, the TÜV-2026 report raises additional questions about the brand’s long-term reliability. It is already noticeable that competitors – both Chinese and European – are closing the technological gap, and sometimes even surpass Tesla in build quality and reliability. If the company does not reconsider its approach to quality control, this could affect residual value, insurance, and the model’s perception among buyers.
For a brand that has long built an image of a technology leader, this result is a serious signal: the market is no longer willing to turn a blind eye to shortcomings, even when it comes to one of the world’s most popular electric cars.