TÜV Report: 20 percent of German commercial vehicles fail inspections

The TÜV-Verband has released its 2026 Commercial Vehicle Report, revealing that approximately 20.3 percent of inspected commercial vehicles in Germany failed their main inspections due to significant or dangerous defects. This failure rate remains largely stable compared to previous years, even as the average age of vehicles increases to 8.9 years. Common issues include oil leaks and lighting defects, particularly in rear lights. Heavy trucks (over 18 tons) and small vans (up to 3.5 tons) showed the highest failure rates at nearly 22 percent.

Notably, the report highlights a poor performance from Chinese manufacturer SAIC with its Maxus Deliver 9, which saw a 33.6 percent failure rate among new vehicles.

In other automotive news, the ADAC has issued warnings regarding a growing shortage of R134a refrigerant due to stricter EU environmental regulations, which may increase maintenance costs for older vehicles. Additionally, testing by the ADAC on winter tires indicates a massive safety risk when tread depth falls below certain levels, particularly regarding aquaplaning resistance.