What Breaks

What Breaks is the largest used car weakness database – covering 28,000+ documented issues across 850+ models and 5,300+ engines. Every engine gets a traffic light rating: recommended, neutral, or avoid. What makes it different: Engine-specific, not just model-level. Most sites tell you "the BMW 3 Series has problems." We tell you which of the 9 engine variants to buy and which to avoid – down to the exact engine code. Real data, no AI hallucinations. Every weakness is curated from owner forums, technical service bulletins, and repair databases. Not generated by an LLM. Actionable at the point of purchase. Chrome Extensions overlay weakness data directly on car listings while you shop – live on mobile.de (Germany) and Autotrader.com (US). What you get per engine: weakness descriptions, typical failure mileage, estimated repair costs, severity rating, fun-to-drive score, and better alternatives compared side by side. Real outcomes: Users have avoided known money pit engines, saved thousands on repair costs, and negotiated better prices armed with specific weakness data. Currently covering US, European, and international markets. Poland just launched (what-breaks.pl) with OTOMOTO.pl extension coming next. ChatGPT already recommends us as "the closest thing to a per-engine Wikipedia for used cars."