Which used cars fail the Dutch APK least often? Failure rates by model and age (September 2026 edition)
Among cars aged 3 to 5 years, 20.8% received a failure item at the APK. Among cars aged 20 to 24 years, that share is 49.9%, the highest of any age group. In the 3 to 5 years group, the BMW Z4 failed least often: 11.6% of 2,300 inspections. The Mercedes-Benz eVito failed most often: 52.0% of 2,053 inspections. These figures come from the Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition, based on open RDW inspection data. This says something about the model, not about the specific car you are looking at.
The BMW Z4 scored lowest of all models: 11.6% received a failure item. That was in the 3 to 5 years age group, across 2,300 inspections. The Mercedes-Benz eVito scored highest in that group: 52.0%, across 2,053 inspections. The APK is the Dutch periodic roadworthiness test that keeps a car legally on the road. This article sets out the figures by age group. You will see which models got a failure item least and most often.
About these figures
Plateop draws these figures from open RDW inspection data. They come from the APK monitor, September 2026 edition. Plateop compiled this edition on 31 August 2026. The window runs from 26 August 2023 through 18 August 2026. An edition is frozen after publication. The figures in this article will not change. A later edition can show different figures. Plateop tracks 254 models from 31 makes. Together, that is 12,603 data cells. A model only counts at 1,500 inspections or more in that age group. That threshold keeps small samples from producing a fluke result.
Failures by age group: the whole fleet
The older the car, the more often it gets a failure item. That holds up to about 20 years old. After that, the share levels off.
| Age | Inspections | With failure item | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | 357 | 65 | 18.2% |
| 3-5 years | 15,750 | 3,274 | 20.8% |
| 6-8 years | 18,981 | 5,436 | 28.6% |
| 9-11 years | 26,123 | 8,780 | 33.6% |
| 12-14 years | 21,585 | 9,241 | 42.8% |
| 15-19 years | 25,501 | 12,634 | 49.5% |
| 20-24 years | 23,251 | 11,599 | 49.9% |
| 25-30 years | 12,471 | 5,751 | 46.1% |
For cars aged 20 to 24 years, the share is highest: 49.9%. For cars aged 25 to 30 years, it drops slightly, to 46.1%. These figures cover the whole fleet, not one make. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition.
Models with the lowest and highest failure rates: 3 to 5 years old
For this youngest age group, Plateop publishes a top 5 on both sides. For the other age groups, that is a top 3. The as-of date for this block is 3 September 2026. That is a few days later than the window for the rest of this edition. Only models with at least 1,500 inspections count.
Lowest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Z4 | 2,300 | 11.6% |
| Porsche 911 | 3,658 | 12.8% |
| BMW X4 | 2,117 | 13.0% |
| Porsche Cayenne | 4,418 | 14.1% |
| Audi Q8 | 2,291 | 14.4% |
Highest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz eVito | 2,053 | 52.0% |
| Dacia Dokker | 2,825 | 44.4% |
| Citroen Jumper | 3,997 | 41.4% |
| Tesla Model S | 3,602 | 35.4% |
| Dacia Logan | 3,690 | 35.1% |
The BMW Z4 and the Mercedes-Benz eVito are furthest apart. That is a gap of more than forty percentage points, at the same age. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition, youngest age group block, as of 3 September 2026.
6 to 8 years old
For this age group, Plateop publishes the three lowest and three highest failure shares. Only models with at least 1,500 inspections in this group count.
Lowest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Audi SQ5 | 2,652 | 16.9% |
| Porsche Panamera | 1,754 | 18.2% |
| BMW X4 | 2,129 | 18.7% |
Highest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Dacia Lodgy | 2,409 | 48.1% |
| Dacia Dokker | 6,025 | 46.0% |
| Ford Ranger | 2,669 | 43.1% |
The Audi SQ5 has the lowest failure share here: 16.9% across 2,652 inspections. The Dacia Lodgy has the highest: 48.1% across 2,409 inspections. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition.
9 to 11 years old
Here too, it is the three lowest and three highest failure shares. The threshold is the same: at least 1,500 inspections in this age group.
Lowest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Audi S3 | 2,034 | 21.6% |
| BMW X4 | 1,798 | 22.8% |
| Audi SQ5 | 1,647 | 24.8% |
Highest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan QASHQAI+2 | 1,881 | 51.9% |
| Dacia Lodgy | 3,800 | 49.5% |
| Dacia Dokker | 5,956 | 49.5% |
The Audi S3 has the lowest failure share: 21.6% across 2,034 inspections. The Nissan QASHQAI+2 has the highest: 51.9% across 1,881 inspections. The Dacia Lodgy and Dacia Dokker follow close behind. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition.
12 to 14 years old
The same setup applies here: the three lowest and three highest failure shares, at 1,500 inspections or more.
Lowest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Z4 | 2,324 | 18.5% |
| Audi A7 | 1,634 | 28.6% |
| Mercedes-Benz GLK | 2,632 | 32.3% |
Highest failure share
| Model | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Galaxy | 2,649 | 54.3% |
| Hyundai I 30CW | 7,147 | 54.1% |
| Nissan QASHQAI+2 | 6,977 | 54.1% |
The BMW Z4 also has the lowest failure share in this age group: 18.5% across 2,324 inspections. The Ford Galaxy has the highest: 54.3% across 2,649 inspections. The Hyundai I 30CW and Nissan QASHQAI+2 follow close behind, both at 54.1%. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition.
Fuel: petrol, diesel and electric
Compare these figures only within the same age group. The fleet mix per fuel type differs strongly in age.
Among cars aged 3 to 5 years, 21.0% of petrol cars received a failure item. For diesels, that was 24.9%. For electric cars, that was 19.1%, the lowest of the three. Among cars aged 6 to 8 years, this rises: 27.7% for petrol, 32.1% for diesel. For electric cars, that was 30.0%. For electric cars aged 9 years and older, Plateop does not yet count enough inspections. The threshold is 500 inspections per fuel group in that age group. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition.
Where most defects are found
One inspection can have a defect in more than one category. This is measured across the 254 models Plateop tracks.
| Category | With failure item | Inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other (not further categorised) | 1,250,700 | 5,852,120 | 21.4% |
| Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension | 1,166,144 | 5,852,141 | 19.9% |
| Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system | 1,076,525 | 5,851,991 | 18.4% |
| Braking equipment | 276,612 | 5,837,044 | 4.7% |
| Visibility | 263,821 | 5,848,496 | 4.5% |
After the category Other, axles, wheels, tyres and suspension is most common: 19.9%. Lighting and electrical equipment follows at 18.4%. Brakes and visibility are far less common as a defect, at 4.7% and 4.5%. Source: Plateop APK monitor, September 2026 edition.
Figures by model and build year
To see a model in detail, visit its model page. There, you will find APK figures by build year and by age group. That is available for the Volkswagen Golf, the Ford Focus and the Toyota Yaris, among others. This shows whether a specific build year scores better or worse than the model average.
What these figures do not tell you
This says something about the model, not about the specific car you are looking at. A low rate is not a guarantee. The BMW Z4 has the lowest failure share in the 3 to 5 years group: 11.6% across 2,300 inspections. That is an average across 2,300 different cars. The specific car you are considering could be poorly maintained, even if the model scores well on average. The reverse also holds: a car from a model with a high failure share can be well maintained. Look up a car with a Dutch number plate before you buy, at plateop.com.
Frequently asked questions
Which car fails the APK least often?
In the 3 to 5 years age group, that was the BMW Z4. It received a failure item at 11.6% of 2,300 inspections, in the September 2026 edition of the Plateop APK monitor.
Which car fails the APK most often?
In the 3 to 5 years age group, that was the Mercedes-Benz eVito. It received a failure item at 52.0% of 2,053 inspections, in the same edition.
What share of cars fail the APK on average?
This depends heavily on age. For cars aged 3 to 5 years, that was 20.8%. For cars aged 20 to 24 years, that was 49.9%, the highest share of any age group.
Does a low failure rate mean my car has no problems?
No. The figure is an average across many cars of the same model. The BMW Z4 scored 11.6% across 2,300 inspections. This says something about the model, not about the specific car you are looking at. A low rate is not a guarantee.