APK defects by part

Structural rust at the APK

In Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 the APK inspector recorded a structural rust defect 54,348 times, across 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars. On 40 model generations it occurs clearly more often than average.

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

What is it?

Rust through sills, floor or suspension mounts. Often expensive, and sometimes not worth repairing.

Repair indication: largea substantial repair; have a garage look first.

How to check it at the viewing

Look under the sills, in the wheel arches and at the suspension mounts, and press on suspicious spots. Watch for fresh sealant or new underbody coating.

Ask the seller: Has any welding been done on the floor or sills, and by whom?

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.

#	Model	Age	This model	National	Difference
1	Volkswagen Passat B62005–2010	13–15 yrs	4.2%	0.4%	11.8×
2	Volkswagen Passat B72011–2014	13–15 yrs	3.5%	0.4%	9.9×
3	Volkswagen Jetta V2005–2014	16+ yrs	3.8%	1.2%	3.2×
4	Volkswagen Tiguan I2007–2015	11–12 yrs	2.6%	0.2%	17.3×
5	Volkswagen Touran I2005–2015	11–12 yrs	2.6%	0.2%	17.2×
6	Škoda Superb II2008–2025	13–15 yrs	2.6%	0.4%	7.4×
7	Renault Clio III2005–2012	13–15 yrs	2.6%	0.4%	7.2×
8	Škoda Octavia II2005–2013	11–12 yrs	2.0%	0.2%	13.3×
9	Volkswagen Scirocco III2008–2018	13–15 yrs	2.1%	0.4%	6.0×
10	Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W212/S2122009–2024	11–12 yrs	1.9%	0.2%	12.6×
11	Škoda Yeti2009–2020	16+ yrs	2.8%	1.2%	2.3×
12	Volkswagen Golf VI Variant2009–2014	11–12 yrs	1.7%	0.2%	10.9×
13	Volkswagen Golf VI2009–2018	13–15 yrs	1.8%	0.4%	5.0×
14	Audi Q3 (8U)2011–2019	11–12 yrs	1.4%	0.2%	9.2×
15	Volkswagen Golf V2005–2008	16+ yrs	2.4%	1.2%	2.0×
16	Fiat Panda II2005–2013	16+ yrs	2.4%	1.2%	2.0×
17	Opel Zafira B2005–2015	16+ yrs	2.4%	1.2%	2.0×
18	Opel Meriva A2005–2011	13–15 yrs	1.5%	0.3%	4.4×
19	Toyota Aygo I2005–2013	16+ yrs	2.2%	1.0%	2.1×
20	Volkswagen Golf Plus2005–2014	16+ yrs	2.3%	1.2%	2.0×
21	Opel Adam2012–2019	13–15 yrs	1.5%	0.4%	4.2×
22	Volkswagen Golf V Variant2005–2008	16+ yrs	2.1%	1.1%	2.0×
23	Audi A3 (8P)2005–2014	13–15 yrs	1.4%	0.4%	4.0×
24	Renault Captur I2013–2019	11–12 yrs	1.2%	0.2%	7.9×
25	SEAT Altea2005–2016	11–12 yrs	1.2%	0.2%	7.8×
26	Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W2042007–2014	13–15 yrs	1.4%	0.4%	3.9×
27	Opel Astra H Station Wagon2005–2012	16+ yrs	2.1%	1.2%	1.7×
28	Ford Ka II2008–2016	16+ yrs	1.9%	1.1%	1.8×
29	Mercedes-Benz Sprinter2006–2026	16+ yrs	1.9%	1.1%	1.8×
30	Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse S2042007–2014	13–15 yrs	1.2%	0.4%	3.3×
31	Audi A4 (B9)2016–2025	9–10 yrs	0.8%	0.1%	12.5×
32	Renault Clio IV2013–2019	11–12 yrs	0.8%	0.1%	5.4×
33	Honda Insight II2009–2015	16+ yrs	1.7%	1.1%	1.6×
34	Alfa Romeo Giulietta2010–2021	13–15 yrs	0.7%	0.1%	8.0×
35	Volkswagen Polo IV2005–2010	16+ yrs	1.8%	1.2%	1.5×
36	SEAT Leon II2005–2014	13–15 yrs	0.9%	0.4%	2.4×
37	Audi A5 (F5)2017–2025	5–6 yrs	0.5%	0.0%	42.6×
38	Audi A6 (C8)2018–2026	5–6 yrs	0.4%	0.0%	40.7×
39	Audi A4 (B8)2007–2015	9–10 yrs	0.4%	0.1%	6.6×
40	Mazda CX-5 I2012–2017	11–12 yrs	0.5%	0.2%	3.1×

The most common defects in this group

Defect (RDW description, Dutch)	Type	Share of cars	Cars
Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname	C	0.3%	22,667
Roestschade dorpel	A	0.2%	11,138
Roestschade subframe	A	0.1%	5,395
Roestschade veerschotel	A	0.1%	4,974
Roestschade hoofdbalk	A	0.0%	1,669
Roestschade subframe bevestigingspunt	A	0.0%	1,640
Roestschade hulpbalk	A	0.0%	1,586
Roestschade onderdeel veersysteem	A	0.0%	1,228
Roestschade dragende delen en verankeringen	A	0.0%	1,108
Roestschade wielkast	A	0.0%	744
Roestschade plaatdeel	A	0.0%	483
Dragende delen misvormd of gescheurd	A	0.0%	300

Looking at a used car? Check that car

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Frequently asked questions

Which used cars often have structural rust problems?

At the APK this occurs most clearly above average on the Volkswagen Passat B6, Volkswagen Passat B7, Volkswagen Jetta V. 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