Tesla Model Y is the most defective car in Germany this year
Published on Nov 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Nov 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Tesla Model Y has officially been labeled the most defective car in Germany this year, according to TÜV.
This disappointing data comes from Germany’s TÜV reliability report.
The report notes rising defect rates – as well as new leaders in these classes.
And the Tesla Model Y has the dishonor of topping these charts.
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Germany’s TÜV report makes damning reading
Some very interesting news has come out of Germany in the last few days.
And it does not make good reading for certain car brands.
The TÜV reliability report is conducted by the government watchdog every year.
It makes a close note of roadworthiness and defects among road-going cars.
The 2026 TÜV report has just been released.
And it makes for some pretty ugly reading.
It turns out that, between July 2024 and July 2025, one in five cars in Germany failed an annual roadworthiness inspection.
And Tesla is one of the biggest culprits of them all.
In fact, of the 9.5 million vehicles inspected, two Tesla vehicles occupy the bottom two spots on the rankings.
The Tesla Model 3, for example, has been the worst-ranked car for the past two years.
This year, it was found to have a defect rate of 13.1 percent.
It means that one in every 7.6 cars in the two-to-three-year-old age group failed the German safety check.
Tesla Model Y sits at the foot of the rankings
But the bad news doesn’t end there for the American EV brand.
In fact, another of its range sits dead last on the rankings.
It turns out that the Tesla Model Y is even more troubled than the Model 3.
The Model Y was found to have a defect rate of 17.3 percent.
This figure makes the Model Y the worst TÜV has seen in this age group in a decade.
And there are certain components that are clear red flags.
The biggest defect culprits were the suspension, axle assembly, lighting, and brakes.
But the failures of the American vehicles are just part of a wider problem.
The overall report revealed that 21.5 percent of all cars failed the inspection due to a ‘significant’ or ‘dangerous’ defect.
It represents an increase of 0.9 percent from the previous year.
Tesla will certainly be happy to see 2025 finally come to an end.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
