Abstract Nowadays, many innovations in the automobile are enabled by electronics. Ambient requirements can be very stringent especially when the temperature reaches 150 °C or even more. Especially electrolytic capacitors are known to be critical devices at high temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to validate the performance of such components and check their reliability during high temperature operation. In this paper we discuss how to predict the lifetime of both aluminum and tantalum electrolytic capacitors. In that aim we first review state of the art qualification tests that allow a life prediction. We describe a test setup that we have built in order to investigate electrolytic capacitors by LCR and leakage current measurements at temperatures above current manufacturer's specifications. Results for different capacitors after variation of tests conditions will be presented.