Electric vehicles have fewer engine failures than combustion engines

Photo: ADAC | Wilfried Wulff

The current ADAC analysis data show which cars broke down the most in 2022. For the first time in the ranking: electric cars from the registration year 2020. All four models were slightly ahead in their classes compared to combustion engines.

In the total number of failures in the past year, the battery accounted for 43.2 percent of breakdowns – 3.0 percentage points less in 2021. 17.4 percent of explosions were in the engine category and 10.6 percent in the electrical category.

Audi A4, BMW 1 Series, 3 Series and X3 cars are among the most reliable models with combustion engines in all years of their first registration. The Fiat Ducato built in 2013 had the highest breakdown rate of all models. The VW ID.3 and BMW i3 electric cars from registration year 2020 had the fewest breakdowns overall.

When comparing combustion engines and electric models, only cars that were registered for the first time in 2020 were compared. In addition, as with combustion engines, only those electric vehicles were evaluated that had at least 7,000 registrations in two years. In terms of small cars, these were BMW i3 and Renault Zoe, in the lower class Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.3.

Problems with the starter battery were common. There were more punctures with combustion engines, which according to ADAC can be explained by the large number of kilometers driven (e-cars about 12,000 km, combustion engines 20,300 km per year). There was no significant difference, for example, in the case of broken lights, body and brakes. On the other hand, there was a greater difference in the groups “car keys” and “engine, vehicle management, high-voltage system”, in which electric vehicles performed better in each case.

According to ADAC, the reasons may be that keyless systems are frequently used in electric vehicles, which means that the breakdown of the “key in the car” is not very common. The difference in the motor can be attributed, among other things, to the simpler technical design of the electric motor.

A total of 155 car series from around 20 car brands were evaluated in the current ADAC analysis statistics. All combinations in the period 2022 affecting vehicles 3 to 10 years old (first registration 2013 to 2020) were included. All detailed results and tables are there on ADAC.