The safety status of coach and local transit buses across Germany has shown a noticeable decline. According to data released by the TÜV Verband, almost one in five buses examined in 2024 and 2025 failed the main technical inspection due to “significant” or “dangerous” defects. This failure rate represents a substantial jump of 5.1 percentage points compared to the previous year’s report. Furthermore, 11.0 percent were flagged for minor deficiencies, a slight increase of 0.5 points.
Curiously, even newly registered vehicles are showing troubling signs, with one in ten buses flagged for issues just one year after they were commissioned.
The defect rates appear to correlate with the vehicle’s age. At buses five years old, 21 percent were cited for significant or dangerous defects, rising further to 24.1 percent for vehicles that were 15 years old. Despite this increase in defects, the German bus fleet reached a record size of approximately 87,500 vehicles as of January 1, 2026, and the average age of the buses stands at 8.3 years. Although local public transportation services have recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, long-distance travel remains below those historic norms.
Common technical problems cited in accidents include faulty brakes, poor lighting, and oil leaks. Drawing attention to these issues, Richard Goebelt of the TÜV Verband stressed that bus operators must substantially increase their investment in routine maintenance and vehicle care. He also noted that modern buses require updated testing procedures to ensure that safety-critical malfunctions and instances of tampering can be reliably detected.
