APK defects by part

Drive shafts at the APK

In Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 the APK inspector recorded a drive shafts defect 116,699 times, across 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars. On 89 model generations it occurs clearly more often than average.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Torn boots or worn CV joints on the drive shafts.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look behind the front wheels at the rubber boots: no tears or grease around them. Drive a tight turn: no clicking noise.

Ask the seller: Have the drive shaft boots or CV joints been replaced?

Models where this is clearly more common

Sorted by how many extra cars have this defect. Per model the age with the largest difference; only when the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval is above the national share and the difference is at least 3 in 1,000 cars.

#ModelAgeThis modelNationalDifference
1Renault Clio IV2013–201913–15 yrs14.7%1.9%7.9×
2Polestar Polestar 22020–20265–6 yrs10.2%0.3%34.8×
3Mercedes-Benz B-Klasse W2452005–201416+ yrs13.2%3.5%3.8×
4Nissan Qashqai I2007–201513–15 yrs11.5%1.9%6.2×
5Volvo V90 / S90 II2016–20269–10 yrs8.4%0.7%11.7×
6Audi Q5 (8R)2008–202213–15 yrs9.5%1.9%5.1×
7Mercedes-Benz V-Klasse / Vito W4472014–20263–4 yrs7.4%0.2%35.9×
8Renault Mégane III2008–201611–12 yrs8.2%1.2%6.7×
9Ford Mondeo IV2007–201411–12 yrs7.9%1.2%6.5×
10Škoda Roomster2006–202316+ yrs10.1%3.5%2.9×
11Volkswagen Polo IV2005–201016+ yrs9.7%3.5%2.8×
12Volkswagen Golf V2005–200816+ yrs9.3%3.4%2.7×
13Volkswagen Fox2005–201316+ yrs9.3%3.4%2.7×
14Audi A4 (B8)2007–201516+ yrs9.2%3.5%2.6×
15Kia Picanto I2005–201213–15 yrs7.5%1.9%4.0×
16Renault Scénic III2009–201611–12 yrs6.5%1.2%5.3×
17Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W1692005–201216+ yrs8.6%3.4%2.5×
18SEAT Altea2005–201616+ yrs8.6%3.4%2.5×
19Hyundai i10 I2008–201411–12 yrs6.3%1.2%5.1×
20Volkswagen Touran I2005–201516+ yrs8.5%3.5%2.4×
21SEAT Leon II2005–201416+ yrs8.5%3.5%2.4×
22Porsche Macan I2014–202411–12 yrs5.7%1.2%4.7×
23Volkswagen Passat B62005–201016+ yrs7.9%3.4%2.3×
24Volvo V70 III / XC70 II2007–201713–15 yrs6.3%1.9%3.4×
25Škoda Octavia II2005–201316+ yrs7.8%3.5%2.2×
26Škoda Fabia II2007–201416+ yrs7.6%3.5%2.2×
27Audi A3 (8P)2005–201416+ yrs7.6%3.5%2.2×
28Opel Meriva A2005–201116+ yrs7.5%3.4%2.2×
29Ford C-MAX I2005–202016+ yrs7.3%3.5%2.1×
30Volvo V60 I / S60 II2010–201913–15 yrs5.6%1.9%3.0×
31Mitsubishi Outlander II2008–201216+ yrs7.0%3.5%2.0×
32Volkswagen Golf Plus2005–201416+ yrs6.9%3.5%2.0×
33BMW 5-serie G302017–20257–8 yrs3.9%0.5%8.2×
34BMW 5-serie G312017–20249–10 yrs3.8%0.7%5.4×
35Volvo V502005–202013–15 yrs4.9%1.9%2.6×
36Volkswagen Polo V2009–201813–15 yrs4.7%1.9%2.5×
37Peugeot 508 I2011–20219–10 yrs3.5%0.7%5.0×
38Hyundai i20 I2008–20179–10 yrs3.5%0.7%4.9×
39SEAT Ibiza IV2008–201813–15 yrs4.6%1.8%2.5×
40Dacia Sandero I2008–201216+ yrs6.2%3.4%1.8×
41Peugeot 5008 II2017–20257–8 yrs3.2%0.5%6.6×
42Mercedes-Benz GLC X2532015–20259–10 yrs3.3%0.7%4.6×
43Mercedes-Benz ML / GLE W1662011–20207–8 yrs3.0%0.5%6.3×
44Audi Q5 (FY)2016–20265–6 yrs2.8%0.3%9.4×
45Nissan Micra IV2010–201713–15 yrs4.1%1.9%2.2×
46Volvo XC60 I2008–201813–15 yrs4.0%1.8%2.2×
47Volkswagen Tiguan I2007–201516+ yrs5.7%3.6%1.6×
48Citroën C3 II2009–20167–8 yrs2.6%0.5%5.4×
49Peugeot 2008 I2013–202113–15 yrs4.0%1.9%2.1×
50Peugeot 3008 II2016–20259–10 yrs2.8%0.7%3.9×
51Hyundai ix202010–202013–15 yrs3.9%1.9%2.1×
52Peugeot 206+2009–201113–15 yrs3.9%1.9%2.1×
53Suzuki Alto (2009)2009–20159–10 yrs2.7%0.7%3.8×
54BMW 5-serie F102010–20199–10 yrs2.6%0.7%3.7×
55Citroën DS32010–202413–15 yrs3.7%1.9%2.0×
56Nissan Note II2013–20177–8 yrs2.3%0.5%4.9×
57Volkswagen Golf VI2009–201816+ yrs5.3%3.5%1.5×
58Volkswagen Scirocco III2008–201816+ yrs5.1%3.4%1.5×
59Volvo V40 II2012–20209–10 yrs2.4%0.7%3.4×
60Nissan Juke I2010–20199–10 yrs2.4%0.7%3.4×
61Kia Sportage IV2015–20229–10 yrs2.4%0.7%3.4×
62Alfa Romeo MiTo2008–201913–15 yrs3.5%1.8%1.9×
63Citroën C5 Aircross2018–20255–6 yrs1.9%0.3%6.4×
64Škoda Yeti2009–202013–15 yrs3.4%1.9%1.8×
65Dacia Duster I2010–202213–15 yrs3.3%1.8%1.8×
66Kia Venga2009–201913–15 yrs3.3%1.8%1.8×
67Tesla Model S2013–20225–6 yrs1.7%0.3%5.7×
68Citroën C3 III2017–20249–10 yrs2.1%0.7%2.9×
69Škoda Rapid2012–202111–12 yrs2.6%1.2%2.1×
70Audi A1 (8X)2010–201913–15 yrs3.2%1.9%1.7×
71Škoda Superb II2008–202513–15 yrs3.2%1.9%1.7×
72Volvo V60 II / S60 III2018–20267–8 yrs1.8%0.5%3.7×
73Citroën C4 Cactus2014–20219–10 yrs1.8%0.7%2.6×
74Citroën C3 Aircross I2017–20247–8 yrs1.5%0.5%3.0×
75Tesla Model X2016–20229–10 yrs1.7%0.7%2.4×
76Opel Grandland2017–20267–8 yrs1.4%0.5%3.0×
77Porsche Cayenne III2017–20267–8 yrs1.4%0.5%2.9×
78Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C402017–20265–6 yrs1.2%0.3%4.2×
79Citroën C4 Picasso II / SpaceTourer2013–20229–10 yrs1.6%0.7%2.2×
80Hyundai Tucson III2015–20219–10 yrs1.6%0.7%2.2×
81Ford Kuga II2013–202011–12 yrs2.1%1.2%1.7×
82Porsche 911 (992)2019–20263–4 yrs1.0%0.2%5.0×
83Peugeot 508 II2018–20263–4 yrs1.0%0.2%4.7×
84Opel Mokka B2020–20263–4 yrs0.7%0.2%3.2×
85Opel Crossland2017–20257–8 yrs0.9%0.5%1.9×
86Dacia Duster II2018–20245–6 yrs0.7%0.3%2.4×
87Peugeot 308 II2013–20227–8 yrs0.8%0.4%1.8×
88Renault Zoe2013–20253–4 yrs0.5%0.2%2.6×
89Opel Astra K2015–20237–8 yrs0.8%0.5%1.6×

The most common defects in this group

Defect (RDW description, Dutch)TypeShare of carsCars
Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet afB1.5%100,917
Stofhoes aandrijfas ondeugdelijk bevestigdB0.2%15,782

Looking at a used car? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how the car compares with the same model at the same age.

Frequently asked questions

Which used cars often have drive shafts problems?

At the APK this occurs most clearly above average on the Renault Clio IV, Polestar Polestar 2, Mercedes-Benz B-Klasse W245. Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know