The 7 least reliable cars revealed—and the 3 that surprisingly beat expectations

A Breakdown of the Breakdown Study

Every year, the German automobile club ADAC compiles their much-anticipated report—a kind of automotive report card based on real-life roadside breakdowns. In 2024, they studied 159 different car models, all aged between three and ten years, using data from more than 3.6 million call-outs by their breakdown service. Only true immobilizations made it into their study; in other words, they ignored minor glitches or issues that didn’t leave you stranded.

Electric Cars Take the Reliability Crown

Here’s the headline that’s set to charge up every EV owner: electric vehicles are proving much more reliable than their petrol and diesel-powered cousins. The numbers tell the story:

• Newer EVs (aged 2–4 years): 3.8 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles
• Gasoline and diesel vehicles (same age): 9.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles

So, traditional cars break down more than two and a half times as often as their electric rivals in these age groups. Maybe those fewer moving parts really do make a difference—at least when it comes to the long, lonely roadside wait.

The 12-Volt Battery: The Small Part That Causes Big Problems

What’s the single most likely culprit behind a car refusing to budge? The trusty old 12-volt battery. Nearly half of all the stranded vehicles in the study were stuck because of this modest component. And just when you thought sticking with a “reliable” brand would save you: Toyota models, typically held up as paragons of dependability, turned up more than their fair share of problems traced back to this exact part. Even the best of reputations can’t shield you from failures in the simplest, yet most mission-critical parts.

No Brand Fully Immune: Every Car Has Its Weak Spot

ADAC didn’t just leave us with cold, hard stats. They also published detailed lists of models with the best and worst breakdown rates. While the rankings reveal clear champions and laggards in reliability, the club is quick to point out that every manufacturer, no matter how storied, has its weaknesses. And one final note: those stellar electric vehicle figures aren’t just dumb luck—EVs have fewer moving parts and less to go mechanically astray, partly explaining their better performance. That said, the 12-volt battery remains a critical Achilles’ heel even in the newest electric models.