Vehicle age and mileage impact reliability

Data from the Croatian Vehicle Center indicates that both vehicle age and mileage significantly impact the likelihood of mechanical failure, though they do so in different ways.

For vehicles under five years old, failure rates among top brands remain low, between 1% and 3%. As vehicles age into the five-to-ten-year bracket, failure rates increase, with brands like Volkswagen reaching approximately 6.59%. Once a vehicle exceeds ten years of age, failure rates rise sharply, often reaching double digits for brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Toyota.

While high mileage increases risk, the type of driving matters; highway mileage may be less taxing on certain components than frequent short city trips. Conversely, low mileage does not guarantee reliability, as time affects rubber seals, hoses, corrosion, and batteries regardless of distance traveled. Generally, a well-maintained younger vehicle with higher mileage may be a safer purchase than a much older vehicle with low mileage.