A method for quantitative estimation of the reliability of a technical system for complex systems with a multiplicity of components. First, second and third failure rates are distinguished for the system components. An upper, lower and, if appropriate, mean value are in each case estimated for the largely unknown second failure rates by subjective expert opinion, and all upper, lower and, if appropriate, a mean probability distribution and, if appropriate, a mean probability distribution of the system reliability. Systematic correlations between expert estimates are thereby taken into account. For the first failure rates, mean values obtained from operational experience are determined with a confidence interval, and widened Poisson distributions are calculated. Furthermore, it is possible to add to the overall probability of the system reliability the Poisson distribution of third types of fault whose failure rates are known a priori or with a high statistical reliability.