Ebike Problems: Study Reveals the Most Common Defects

Last updated: 28 November 2024

Ebikes are prone to defects. We all notice this in everyday life, whether it’s just a valve suddenly leaking or the motor going on strike. But which parts and components break down most often and why? Companies such as the German insurer Wertgarantie regularly analyse this. Here you can find out the results of the ‘’E-Bike-Reparatur-Studie 2021‘’. In addition, we take a more general approach to the topic and look at, among other things, which damage to the ebike can be repaired by yourself and which defects can be completely avoided.

1. The ‘’E-Bike-Reparatur-Studie 2021‘’ in detail
2. What are the most common causes of damage to an ebike?
3. Which parts and components most frequently break down due to a technical defect?
4. Which parts and components suffer the most from wear and tear?
5. Which damage to the ebike can be repaired by yourself?
6. How can regular maintenance protect against defects?

1. The ‘’E-Bike-Reparatur-Studie 2021‘’ in detail

1.1 Reasons for damage
1.2 Which ebike motor causes the most problems?
1.3 Battery: market giant not convincing
1.4 Display: Bosch dominates
1.5 Ebike repair: Self-reliance is the name of the game
1.6 Details of the study design
1.7 Further issues of the Wertgarantie ebike study

1.1 Reasons for damage

For the second time since 2020, Wertgarantie has presented the results of a survey on the subject of ebikes. In collaboration with the German online portal Statista, more than 2,000 people were asked what broke on their bikes and how they repaired the damage.

Following on from 2020, in 2021, the defect gremlin is once again the number one cause of damage. Around one in five respondents were affected by a technical defect. The motor and battery are often affected. Unfortunately, the study does not record the exact reasons. However, the authors believe that manufacturing errors, improper handling of the components, inadequate care of the system and the odd wrong move during repairs in a private workshop are possible. In the case of the battery, however, the figures are declining. This could be due, among other things, to the increasing number of batteries that are fully integrated into the frame and the better protection this provides.

The second most common cause of damage, at around 16 per cent, is an accident involving the ebike. The handlebars are most likely to be affected. While replacing the handlebars does not usually tear such a deep hole in the wallet, the situation is different in the case of the battery and display. Both are the second and third most damaged parts in an accident.

In comparison, the ‘total loss’ caused by the loss of an ebike is of course even worse. Fortunately, the proportion of people who have had an ebike stolen has actually fallen slightly by around three per cent. In contrast, the theft of individual components is increasing at the same rate. The survey does not reveal exactly what the thieves are stealing. However, many things are conceivable, from batteries and displays left on the ebike to the removal of valuable parts such as wheels or suspension forks.

1.2 Which ebike motor causes the most problems?

What is particularly interesting about the study is the analysis of the distribution of damage to the motor, battery and display components that are essential for the ebike. Basically, damage can be caused by a classic technical defect, an accident or theft. Theft was explicitly excluded when analysing the motor. As a result, the values shown here correlate very strongly with everyday experience in terms of aspects of riding, such as durability. You get a pretty good picture of which motors frequently cause problems and which rarely do.

Due to the lowest number of mentions, the Fischer Silent Drive, the Bosch Performance Line and the Giant SyncDrive Sport scored best among the motors. The top score goes to the PW-ST from Yamaha. These four units are in the single-digit percentage range, which can be rated as very good.

In the midfield, there are other units from Bosch together with the tireless Impulse Evo and widely used models from Shimano. At over 40 per cent, the names of the Drive S Mag from Brose and the Steps 6100 from Shimano appear by far the most frequently. The difference to the rest of the field is so clear that technical defects seem to be of greater relevance here.

There is a certain ambivalence in the result. On the one hand, it is consistent with our own experience that motors from well-known manufacturers such as Bosch, Giant and Yamaha cause fewer problems and fail less frequently. Ebikes equipped with drives from these brands are sometimes more expensive, but in return they guarantee reliable quality. At the same time, it is clear that even less well-known manufacturers such as Fischer can make this claim. And with the Shimano Steps 6100 and the Brose S Mag, two motors bring up the rear that many of you would probably not have expected. Big names don’t automatically mean small problems or no problems at all.

1.3 Battery: market giant not convincing

If you only look at the technical defects in the causes of damage, you will notice that the battery is the most conspicuous. After all, the proportion has fallen by around five per cent compared to 2020, with the Panasonic SF-06-S performing best. Just four per cent of respondents reported damage to this device. With the Giant EnergyPak 500 and the Yamaha Lithium Ion, two other batteries landed below the ten per cent mark. The Steps BT-E8014 from Shimano came a distant last. A similar version of the frame battery, the Shimano BT-E8010, came off slightly better. However, there is a clear gap to the competition. Market leader Bosch lands in the midfield with the PowerTube and the PowerPack. It is not clear from the study which specific versions of these batteries this applies to.

1.4 Display: Bosch dominates

The winner in terms of points among the displays is the manufacturer Bosch. Kiox, Intuvia and Purion not only take first, second and fourth place in this category, but are also spared damage in more than 90 per cent of cases. Among the trio is the SC-E6100 from Shimano, a representative that has been on the market for quite a long time. The conclusion for the much newer SC-E7000 is less positive. Shimano once again brought up the rear in the survey.

1.5 Ebike repair: Self-reliance is the name of the game

If you don’t need an expert, you can do it yourself. Many people still seem to follow this motto when it comes to repairing an ebike. Almost 45 per cent of respondents in this study expressed this opinion. However, the proportion of those who repair everything on their own bike themselves has fallen by a good quarter to 17 per cent. Confidence in the abilities of specialist dealers appears to be at a similar level to the previous year. Around 35 per cent of people take their ebike to a professional workshop for this purpose.

To contrast deeply rooted clichés with reality, one detail should be explicitly pointed out at this point. Among those who consider themselves capable of maintaining and servicing their ebike themselves, women up to the age of 29 make up the largest group. So much perhaps for the technical aptitude of the supposedly weaker sex.

1.6 Details of the study design

We have gone into detail about how this study is based on the very specific interpretation of a damage case. It should also be mentioned that the data basis for the E-Bike-Reparatur-Studie 2021 was a list of manufacturers and models compiled by Wertgarantie in consultation with Statista. This only included ebikes and pedelecs, not speed pedelecs. Together with Statista, the insurer surveyed exactly 2,098 people aged 18 and over via an online panel. The survey took place from 14 December 2020 to 21 January 2021.

You can find the complete study together with further research on the Linexo website. Click on ‘Magazin’ in the top menu. Then go to ‘Studien’ under ‘Wissenswertes’. There you will find the corresponding links.

1.7 Further issues of the Wertgarantie ebike study

E-Bike-Reparatur-Studie 2020

In its first study, Wertgarantie covered a wide range of topics from satisfaction with individual brands, specific models and various ebike systems. The insurer also took a look at cyclists. For example, it showed why they use an ebike, how intensively they do so and which repairs they are confident they can carry out themselves.

Fahrrad & E-Bike Report 2023

The studies for 2020 and 2021 went into great depth. Considering the enormous diversity on the market, the approach of breaking down the statistics into individual motors and ebike models could not be continued in this form. From then on, the authors therefore differentiated more strongly as to why an ebike suffers damage and how often this occurs. In addition, findings from bicycles without electric assistance were incorporated into the report, providing a more complex overview of the bicycles in use.

Fahrrad & E-Bike Studie 2024

With the latest edition of its report, the company built on the concept from 2023. The scope grew slightly. The reasons for this were an even deeper look at some details as well as the setting of certain focal points. For example, in 2024, respondents were asked to take a closer look at the range of their ebike battery as well as the purchase price of the ebike.

2. What are the most common causes of damage to an ebike?

Generally speaking, technical defects and wear and tear are among the main factors that can cause damage to an ebike. Most of you would probably have guessed this without reading a study beforehand. Both causes run like a common thread through the studies conducted by Wertgarantie between 2020 and 2024.

Nevertheless, a certain shift in frequency has crystallised over time. One of the main reasons for this is a change in the questions asked in the studies. The issues for 2020 and 2021 only differentiated between technical defects, accidents and theft as causes of damage. The topic of wear and tear is not explicitly addressed. The authors of the studies presumably include it in the area of technical defects.

From 2023, there is a separation between the two causes. In that year, both are also ranked first and second among the causes of damage. However, at around 33 per cent, wear and tear is well ahead of technical defects, which only account for around 22 per cent. The gap of around ten percentage points is confirmed in the 2024 edition. In that year, wear and tear again tops the list with a good 22 per cent. At 12.6 per cent, we find technical defects in 4th place. 2nd place is taken by damage caused by theft, whereby theft alone was combined with ‘collateral damage’ caused by theft. Accidents caused by third parties and accidents caused by the rider themselves, including falls, together make up 3rd place.

E-drive: Responsible for wear and tear – but more reliable than before

The separate recording of wear and tear and technical defects in the studies leads to two assumptions:

1. Wear and tear is indeed the biggest ‘enemy’ of a fully functional ebike. This would confirm assumptions that the greater strains placed on ebikes take their toll. In continuous operation, a typical ebike motor provides 250 watts. Added to this is the power you generate when pedalling. For shorter periods, this can be 250 watts or more. There are corresponding forces behind this. Basically, it is as if two adults are constantly acting on the gearing, brakes, chainrings, sprockets, chain, tyres and so on. It’s understandable if this leaves its mark. And we’re not even talking about the peak performance of the mid-drive motors, which can reach up to 600 watts on a Bosch Performance Line CX and an incredible 1,000 watts on the DJI Avinox in boost mode.

In addition, many ebikes today still weigh more than their counterparts without electric assistance. This also contributes to increased wear and tear, for example during braking.

2. The ebike system, consisting of motor, battery. display, control unit, sensors and other parts, causes fewer problems than in the past. The share of 12.5 per cent from the study for 2024 in particular makes it clear that a lot has improved in this respect over the years. Of course, manufacturers are constantly developing. New systems and new components can be susceptible to new defects. But basically, the learning process is probably leading to drives working much more reliably today than they did ten years ago.

3. Which parts and components most frequently break down due to a technical defect?

Ebike battery

In Wertgarantie’s surveys, the battery is always number one on the list of defects. If the battery of an ebike breaks, it rarely affects the entire battery. In most cases, individual battery cells fail. For safety reasons, however, the e-drives usually report a failure of the entire battery. As cells can only be replaced safely by trained specialists, this procedure is very easy to understand.

The best protection against a defective ebike battery is to follow the user manual. It contains instructions that most of you will have heard of, but which, despite their obviousness, do not lose their validity.

• Avoid excessive heating due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and other heat sources.
• Keep contacts clean and dry.
• Avoid repeated complete discharges.
• Ideally charge at room temperature.
• At temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius, only insert the battery into the ebike shortly before starting your journey.
• If not used for a longer period of time, store in a dry place at room temperature with a medium charge level.
• Clean occasionally with a damp cloth and then dry off.

Ebike motor

No manufacturer builds flawless motors. This is why the motor is the second most common cause of e-drive failures. Some manufacturers traditionally struggle with a specific problem, be it overheating of the motor, loose connections or unstable software. In our experience, the phenomena can be broken down into the following five general points:

• Drive unit failure
• Communication error between drive unit and display
• Communication error between drive unit and battery
• Faulty sensors, often especially the speed sensor
• Outdated or incorrect firmware or software installed

Incidentally, the cause of the problem with an ebike motor is often irregular charging of the battery. We also advise you to take error codes seriously when they first appear. Ignoring them can have far more serious consequences later on.

Ebike display and control unit

Due to their position on the handlebars, the display and control unit for the ebike are particularly vulnerable in the event of a fall. Buttons can sometimes jam or a contact can break. A cable can also quickly come loose when pulling the ebike out of a crowded bike stand. Fortunately, the latter problem is easy to solve.

The statistics do not include a phenomenon that we are very familiar with in practice 😉 Unfortunately. This refers to the speed sensor that is lost while riding. Understandably, the e-drive then no longer functions correctly. In many situations, searching for the lost sensor is not an option. In this case, the only solution is to replace it with a new one.

4. Which parts and components suffer the most from wear and tear?

Bicycle chain

The chain is one of the first components on an ebike to show wear. It is impossible to say in general terms after how many kilometres this is the case. There are too many factors involved. These include the question of whether you are mostly travelling on flat terrain or often have to tackle climbs, the type of surface, the support level you mainly use, how often you shift gears and, of course, which chain is fitted to your ebike. Depending on these conditions, a chain may need to be replaced after 1,500 kilometres to 2,000 kilometres or perhaps only after 5,000 kilometres. In some forums, ebike riders also report that they have been able to cover up to 10,000 kilometres with a single chain without any worries.

We would like to give you two pieces of advice. Firstly, a chain will definitely last longer if you actively use the gears on your ebike. This is especially true when accelerating from a standstill. If you always have the highest gear engaged and let the turbo mode do the work when starting off, you will only enjoy your bike chain for a shorter time. Secondly, it is worth purchasing bicycle chains specially designed for ebikes, such as those offered by Shimano with its Linkglide groupset. Made from a different material, they are more robust than conventional chains. This significantly increases their durability.

You can check whether a bike chain needs to be replaced at home using a chain gauge. If you place the gauge on top of the chain and it does not fall into the gaps between the chain links, you do not need to replace the chain yet. However, if it sinks in, it’s time for a replacement. Make sure that you use the right gauge from the chain manufacturer. A single gauge cannot be used universally for all chain manufacturers.

Chainring and sprocket

Replacing the bicycle chain in good time will ensure that the chainrings and sprockets of the cassette on the ebike last longer. If regular maintenance is added to this, several thousand kilometres can definitely be achieved for these components. On ebikes with only one chainring, this will probably have to be replaced before the cassette. Once again, the aforementioned factors relating to your daily cycling play a role here.

Many people swear by a complete replacement of the chain, chainring and sprocket. There is no doubt that this is a clean solution. The only disadvantage is the associated higher costs. A professional workshop will usually provide you with reliable information about which parts of the drivetrain really need to be replaced. You can take a closer look at the teeth of the sprocket and chainring in advance. If they are relatively sharp and remind you of shark teeth, you should expect the workshop to advise you to change them.

Tyres

Primarily the higher weight of ebikes compared to bikes without an e-drive contributes to the fact that the tyres are subjected to greater stress and degrade more quickly. Even the lightweights among us who ride very carefully cannot avoid this. Of course, this is also due to the fact that the rubber of the tyre becomes more porous over time automatically and its performance decreases.

Depending on the surface conditions, riding style, braking behaviour and meticulousness in maintaining the appropriate air pressure, the mileage of the same tyre can vary greatly for different riders. Therefore, it is not possible to give a general guideline as to how long a tyre will last on your ebike. You should take action at the latest when cracks appear in the tyre sidewall. In most cases, however, the tread of the tyre has already been worn down considerably. And depending on the context in which you are riding your ebike, you may need to change the tyres sooner.

Brakes

What has been said so far about the wear of the respective components applies equally to the wear of brake pads and discs of a disc brake. Higher riding speeds and the greater mass of the ebike put the material under considerable stress. It is usually advisable to change the disc brake pads if their material thickness is less than 0.5 millimetres. This can be easily checked at home with a caliper gauge. You can take the opportunity to hold it up to the brake discs. These should not be thinner than 1.5 millimetres. If the aluminium core of the disc is already showing, it is high time for a new one.

5. Which damage to the ebike can be repaired by yourself?

As soon as the prices for e-bikes in general and especially for the associated spare parts rise, cyclists tend to repair damage to their ebike themselves more often. You can now find helpful instructions, tutorials and do-it-yourself videos on the internet for a wide range of bike repairs. You also have friends and acquaintances who can help in some cases.

Accordingly, Wertgarantie’s studies repeatedly identify a large proportion of people, regardless of gender, who repair both major and minor damage themselves. This ranges from rudimentary things such as patching a tyre to more complex problems such as replacing a bottom bracket.

In addition, the ebike in particular offers numerous opportunities to carry out various modifications yourself. If you want to retrofit a display or a control unit, you don’t necessarily need to call in a workshop. The same applies, for example, to changing a headlight or replacing the crankset. Online shops and local shops have long offered the necessary tools. And with the opportunity to benefit from other people’s tips or share your own experiences online, this is a trend that is likely to find more fans.

6. How can regular maintenance protect against defects?

The service life of ebike parts can be extended with the right riding style. Just as important, however, is what happens to the bike when it is not being ridden. As in many other areas of life, prevention can be extremely effective. In relation to the ebike, we are talking about maintenance and care.

Understandably, this is not necessarily one of our favourite topics. The fun factor is rather low, the time required is sometimes quite high and the actual process is sometimes tedious. However, the result alone often provides a certain satisfaction. And to be honest, we are not confronted with it every day. Checking the tyre pressure once a week is enough. A rough cleaning once a month. Just like treating the chain. Brakes and gears can perhaps be checked every two or three months. And the annual complete inspection is, as the name suggests, only due once a year. In our opinion, anyone who in addition regularly takes a look at the entire ebike for a visual inspection can be considered very prudent.

Meeting special situations with special care

Basically, we are only challenged by special circumstances. One of these circumstances is called winter and regularly presents us with annoying challenges such as snow and road salt. For example, if the snow is still stubbornly stuck to the ebike, let it thaw completely. You can then wipe the frame with a damp cloth and then dry it off. This will prevent the salt from sticking to the paintwork and dulling it.

In winter, it is a good idea to wipe the chain with a dry cloth, which absorbs the salt as well as the dirt. Then apply a little care product to the chain and rust no longer has a chance and the protection against the weather is renewed. If you ride an ebike with conventional brake cables, you should also dry and lubricate them regularly. This ensures reliable braking and therefore your well-being. 😉 You can also treat other metal parts on your ebike to the same care in winter. However, rust knows no seasons. So, the advice applies all year round.

Safety and flawless functionality are the obvious main arguments in favour of regular care and maintenance of our ebikes. Based on our experience, we add good humour to the list. Because hardly anything puts us in such a good mood as riding an ebike on which only the parts that are supposed to make a noise and the rest runs like clockwork. 😉

Pictures: Wertgarantie SE; Shimano Europe B.V.; Ralf Bohle GmbH; SRAM Deutschland GmbH; Pexels