The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring the operating conditions of motor vehicles, with a drive system with at least one differential that distributes drive torque to the driven wheels. To avoid unacceptable wear in the differential of the drive system, it is proposed that at least the output speeds of the differential, and, via a steering angle sensor, an at least approximate driving of the motor vehicle in a straight line are detected and are compared over a time interval, and that in the case where the differential speed of the output shafts is above a defined speed threshold and prevails over the time interval and the vehicle is driven in a straight line, a warning signal is generated.