A report by Fundación Línea Directa reveals that mechanical defects and inadequate maintenance have caused 670 deaths and around 23,000 injuries in traffic accidents over the past decade in Spain.
The study, based on 1,700 interviews conducted between June 11 and 18, 2026, notes that the average age of vehicles in Spain has reached 14.5 years. When a vehicle involved in an accident has a technical defect, the probability of a fatal outcome increases fivefold.
The general director of Fundación Línea Directa, Mar Garre, warned that the combination of an aging vehicle and insufficient maintenance “is usually lethal”. The most frequent problems detected in inspections include lighting failures (37%), engine and transmission issues (19%), and brake defects (12%).
Around 18% of vehicles fail the ITV on the first attempt. In 2024 nearly 600,000 fines were issued for driving without a valid inspection. More than six million Spaniards admit to having driven at some point without a valid ITV.
The report highlights that economic cost is the main obstacle to preventive maintenance, according to 52% of respondents who postpone it. Keeping inspections and repairs up to date can reduce road deaths, according to the foundation.
