A new study, conducted by the inspection chain Applus, now reveals the most common defects that 200,000 cars fail to pass inspection.
The inspection chain Applus has analyzed data from 200,238 periodic inspections of passenger cars and vans from 2024. The study reveals the 10 errors that most often lead to Danish cars failing their inspection.
When a car fails inspection, it can mean anything from a minor citation to a driving ban.
"The most common fault is a defective license plate light," says John Gantzhorn, technical manager at Applus, in a press release .
– If the car has two license plate lights and one works, you get away with a remark. If both are defective, the car fails the inspection.
This means that the faults on the Danish cars mirror the faults on the other side of the Øresund. That is, the same with the difference that the Swedes most often have problems with the brakes.
In Sweden, a full 12.1 percent of cars have such poor brakes that they are effectively not allowed to drive further, because an inspection has been passed.
Here are the 10 most frequent mistakes that lead to cars being scrapped or receiving roadworthiness warnings in Denmark:
1. Lamp failure
6.4% of all inspection reports contain comments about lighting faults. These can include defective license plate lights, missing tail lights or position lights, and incorrect headlight adjustment.
2. Corrosion-related damage
Holes in the underbody and poor rust repairs are examples of corrosion-related damage. This type of defect is most often seen on older cars.
3. Brake disc defects
Rust edges, wear and tear on the brake discs can cause the car to lose control.
"This is a mistake we often see on newer electric cars," says John Gantzhorn. "Owners use the engine brake and forget to use the mechanical brakes, which causes the brake discs to rust."
4. Suspension failure
A worn ball joint is the most common fault in a car's suspension.
5. Wheel and tire defects
Too little tire pressure, illegal mixing of summer and winter tires, and damaged tires are examples of errors that can cause the car to fail the inspection.
6. Springs and stabilizers
Worn stabilizer bar links and broken springs are common faults.
7. Slur in the steering wheel
Cracked rubber boots, vibrations in the steering wheel and uneven tire wear can be signs of looseness in the steering gear.
8. Corroded brake lines
Corroded brake lines can burst and lead to brake failure. This fault is often seen on older cars.
9. Air pollution
Engines that do not comply with legal requirements for air pollution can fail the test.
10. Braking performance (bias braking)
If the car's braking force differs by more than 30% between the right and left sides on the same axle, the car will fail.
