APK defects by part

Exhaust and emissions at the APK

In Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 the APK inspector recorded a exhaust and emissions defect 191,783 times, across 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars. On 98 model generations it occurs clearly more often than average.

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

What is it?

A leaking exhaust, high emissions or problems with the catalytic converter or particulate filter.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Start the engine cold and watch for smoke and an uneven idle. Listen for blowing noises under the car.

Ask the seller: Has any work been done on the exhaust, catalytic converter or particulate filter?

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	Peugeot 208 I2012–2021	13–15 yrs	9.8%	2.7%	3.6×
2	Peugeot 2008 I2013–2021	13–15 yrs	9.8%	2.7%	3.6×
3	Opel Astra H Station Wagon2005–2012	13–15 yrs	9.6%	2.7%	3.6×
4	Citroën C4 Cactus2014–2021	11–12 yrs	8.3%	1.4%	5.9×
5	Citroën DS32010–2024	9–10 yrs	7.1%	0.8%	8.7×
6	Fiat Panda II2005–2013	13–15 yrs	9.0%	2.7%	3.3×
7	Opel Zafira B2005–2015	13–15 yrs	9.0%	2.7%	3.3×
8	Ford Ka II2008–2016	11–12 yrs	7.2%	1.4%	5.1×
9	Citroën C3 II2009–2016	11–12 yrs	7.0%	1.4%	5.0×
10	Opel Karl2015–2019	11–12 yrs	6.9%	1.4%	4.9×
11	Mercedes-Benz Sprinter2006–2026	7–8 yrs	5.7%	0.4%	14.1×
12	Peugeot 2072006–2016	11–12 yrs	6.5%	1.4%	4.6×
13	Peugeot 206+2009–2011	13–15 yrs	7.7%	2.8%	2.8×
14	Citroën C3 Picasso2009–2012	13–15 yrs	7.6%	2.7%	2.8×
15	Chevrolet Aveo II2011–2019	13–15 yrs	7.2%	2.7%	2.7×
16	Dacia Logan2006–2022	13–15 yrs	6.9%	2.7%	2.6×
17	Škoda Superb II2008–2025	11–12 yrs	4.5%	0.4%	10.5×
18	Fiat 500 (312)2007–2026	16+ yrs	9.1%	5.1%	1.8×
19	Peugeot 1072005–2022	16+ yrs	9.0%	5.0%	1.8×
20	Renault Twingo III2014–2024	9–10 yrs	4.7%	0.8%	5.7×
21	Dacia Duster I2010–2022	13–15 yrs	6.4%	2.7%	2.4×
22	Volkswagen Fox2005–2013	13–15 yrs	6.3%	2.6%	2.4×
23	Mitsubishi Outlander III2013–2021	11–12 yrs	5.0%	1.4%	3.6×
24	Opel Meriva A2005–2011	13–15 yrs	6.2%	2.7%	2.3×
25	Fiat Grande Punto / Punto Evo / Punto2005–2021	16+ yrs	8.3%	4.9%	1.7×
26	Peugeot 308 II2013–2022	9–10 yrs	4.2%	0.8%	5.1×
27	Fiat Panda III2012–2026	11–12 yrs	4.5%	1.4%	3.2×
28	Citroën C1 I2005–2013	16+ yrs	8.1%	5.1%	1.6×
29	Mitsubishi Outlander II2008–2012	16+ yrs	7.8%	4.9%	1.6×
30	Alfa Romeo MiTo2008–2019	9–10 yrs	3.6%	0.8%	4.4×
31	Dacia Sandero I2008–2012	13–15 yrs	5.4%	2.7%	2.0×
32	SEAT Leon II2005–2014	13–15 yrs	5.2%	2.7%	1.9×
33	SEAT Altea2005–2016	11–12 yrs	3.8%	1.4%	2.7×
34	Opel Corsa D2006–2014	13–15 yrs	4.9%	2.7%	1.8×
35	Kia Picanto I2005–2012	13–15 yrs	4.9%	2.7%	1.8×
36	Volvo V40 II2012–2020	13–15 yrs	2.6%	0.4%	6.0×
37	Opel Zafira Tourer C2011–2019	9–10 yrs	3.0%	0.8%	3.6×
38	Citroën C3 III2017–2024	9–10 yrs	2.9%	0.8%	3.5×
39	Ford Kuga II2013–2020	11–12 yrs	3.3%	1.4%	2.4×
40	MINI Mini R56/R552009–2019	16+ yrs	2.7%	0.8%	3.3×
41	Mercedes-Benz V-Klasse / Vito W4472014–2026	11–12 yrs	2.3%	0.4%	5.5×
42	Volvo V70 III / XC70 II2007–2017	11–12 yrs	2.3%	0.4%	5.3×
43	Smart Fortwo II (451)2007–2014	11–12 yrs	3.3%	1.4%	2.3×
44	Nissan Micra V2017–2024	3–4 yrs	1.9%	0.1%	37.9×
45	Opel Mokka (A) / Mokka X2012–2019	9–10 yrs	2.5%	0.8%	3.1×
46	Fiat 500L2012–2021	11–12 yrs	3.1%	1.4%	2.2×
47	Ford Kuga I2008–2012	13–15 yrs	2.1%	0.4%	4.9×
48	Chevrolet Spark2009–2014	13–15 yrs	4.3%	2.7%	1.6×
49	BMW 5-serie G312017–2024	9–10 yrs	1.9%	0.3%	6.2×
50	BMW X1 E842009–2025	16+ yrs	2.4%	0.8%	2.9×
51	Citroën C4 Picasso I2007–2014	11–12 yrs	1.9%	0.4%	4.5×
52	Land Rover Range Rover Sport II2013–2023	11–12 yrs	1.9%	0.4%	4.5×
53	Land Rover Range Rover Evoque I2011–2019	9–10 yrs	1.7%	0.3%	5.4×
54	Ford Mondeo IV2007–2014	13–15 yrs	4.0%	2.7%	1.5×
55	Peugeot 308 I2007–2013	16+ yrs	2.1%	0.8%	2.6×
56	Volkswagen Golf VI Variant2009–2014	11–12 yrs	1.7%	0.4%	3.9×
57	Peugeot 508 II2018–2026	5–6 yrs	1.3%	0.1%	12.9×
58	Peugeot 508 I2011–2021	11–12 yrs	1.6%	0.4%	3.7×
59	Toyota Aygo I2005–2013	11–12 yrs	2.6%	1.4%	1.8×
60	Opel Crossland2017–2025	7–8 yrs	1.5%	0.4%	3.8×
61	Volvo V60 I / S60 II2010–2019	11–12 yrs	1.5%	0.4%	3.6×
62	Opel Astra J2009–2017	9–10 yrs	1.9%	0.8%	2.3×
63	Jeep Renegade2014–2026	9–10 yrs	1.8%	0.8%	2.2×
64	SEAT Ibiza IV2008–2018	13–15 yrs	1.4%	0.4%	3.3×
65	Alfa Romeo Giulietta2010–2021	7–8 yrs	1.1%	0.2%	5.5×
66	BMW X5 G052018–2026	7–8 yrs	1.1%	0.2%	5.4×
67	Volvo V60 I Plug-in Hybrid2012–2018	11–12 yrs	1.3%	0.4%	3.1×
68	Škoda Fabia II2007–2014	13–15 yrs	1.3%	0.4%	3.0×
69	Volvo V502005–2020	13–15 yrs	1.3%	0.4%	2.9×
70	Audi A1 (8X)2010–2019	7–8 yrs	1.2%	0.4%	3.0×
71	Suzuki Celerio2014–2021	7–8 yrs	1.2%	0.4%	2.9×
72	Nissan Pulsar2014–2019	11–12 yrs	1.2%	0.4%	2.9×
73	Volvo XC60 I2008–2018	13–15 yrs	1.2%	0.4%	2.7×
74	Opel Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC2010–2019	9–10 yrs	1.5%	0.8%	1.9×
75	Citroën C4 Picasso II / SpaceTourer2013–2022	7–8 yrs	1.1%	0.4%	2.8×
76	Nissan Juke I2010–2019	11–12 yrs	2.1%	1.4%	1.5×
77	Dacia Sandero II2013–2022	7–8 yrs	0.9%	0.2%	4.4×
78	BMW 5-serie F102010–2019	9–10 yrs	1.0%	0.3%	3.2×
79	Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W212/S2122009–2024	11–12 yrs	1.1%	0.4%	2.6×
80	Peugeot 3008 I2009–2017	9–10 yrs	1.4%	0.8%	1.8×
81	Renault Clio IV2013–2019	7–8 yrs	0.8%	0.2%	4.1×
82	Mazda CX-5 I2012–2017	7–8 yrs	1.0%	0.4%	2.5×
83	Volkswagen Polo V2009–2018	13–15 yrs	1.0%	0.4%	2.4×
84	Volkswagen Passat B82015–2024	11–12 yrs	1.0%	0.4%	2.4×
85	Renault Captur I2013–2019	9–10 yrs	0.9%	0.3%	2.8×
86	Volkswagen Jetta V2005–2014	11–12 yrs	1.0%	0.4%	2.3×
87	BMW 3-serie E90/E912005–2012	13–15 yrs	1.0%	0.4%	2.3×
88	Citroën C3 Aircross I2017–2024	7–8 yrs	0.8%	0.4%	2.1×
89	Audi A6 (C7)2011–2019	11–12 yrs	0.8%	0.4%	2.0×
90	BMW 3-serie F302012–2020	9–10 yrs	0.7%	0.3%	2.3×
91	Ford Focus III2011–2019	11–12 yrs	0.8%	0.4%	1.9×
92	Peugeot 5008 II2017–2025	7–8 yrs	0.8%	0.4%	1.9×
93	Volkswagen Scirocco III2008–2018	13–15 yrs	0.8%	0.4%	1.9×
94	Ford Focus IV2018–2026	7–8 yrs	0.6%	0.2%	2.7×
95	Ford Mondeo V2015–2022	9–10 yrs	0.6%	0.3%	2.1×
96	BMW 5-serie G302017–2025	7–8 yrs	0.5%	0.2%	2.6×
97	Hyundai Ioniq2016–2023	5–6 yrs	0.4%	0.1%	4.0×
98	Ford C-MAX II / Grand C-MAX2010–2020	7–8 yrs	0.5%	0.2%	2.5×

The most common defects in this group

Defect (RDW description, Dutch)	Type	Share of cars	Cars
Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse	B	1.9%	130,472
Uitlaatsysteem ondeugdelijk bevestigd	B	0.4%	29,205
CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan	A	0.2%	14,905
Roetfilter werkt niet goed, aantal deeltjes meer dan toegest	A	0.1%	6,116
Lambdawaarde wijkt af	A	0.1%	5,473
Emissiebestrijdingssysteem niet compleet	A	0.1%	5,061
Absorptiecoefficient te hoog	A	0.0%	258
Roetfilter niet aanwezig of duidelijk defect	A	0.0%	141
Voorgeschreven toerental niet in te stellen of wijkt af	A	0.0%	79
Roetfilter werkt niet (goed), aantal deeltjes > 1 miljoen en	A	0.0%	33
CO > 2x wettelijk toegestaan	A	0.0%	25
Voorgeschreven toerental niet in te stellen of wijkt af	A	0.0%	14

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 exhaust and emissions problems?

At the APK this occurs most clearly above average on the Peugeot 208 I, Peugeot 2008 I, Opel Astra H Station Wagon. 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