Wheel failure is the most commonly reported issue across luggage in general — wheels take more repeated mechanical stress than any other component, rolling over rough surfaces under the full weight of a packed case, and are usually the first thing to show wear.
Handle mechanism failure is the next most common issue, particularly on cases regularly packed close to their weight limit — a telescoping handle carries real sustained load every time it’s wheeled at an angle, and a handle built for a lighter case can develop play or jam over years of heavier use.
Zip failure, whether from trapped fabric, a bent slider, or general wear, is the third common category. The shell itself — cracking or genuine structural failure — is comparatively rare in normal use and usually points to either a specific hard impact or a case that was already thin-walled and under-built for its price.
Last reviewed 26 August 2026