Real-time performance and reliability are two most important issues in applications of time-triggered controller area network (CAN) bus systems at present. A scheduling matrix of time-triggered CAN-bus system is established using average-loading algorithm. Periodic messages are guaranteed to transmit without delay by distributing independent transmission windows within the system matrix. Considering the traditional CAN-bus transmission mechanism and the time-triggered feature, an algorithm is improved to calculate the worst-case delay of event-triggered messages in time-triggered CAN-bus systems. The failure probability is calculated for event-triggered messages whose worst-case delay exceeds their deadlines. Different levels of redundant structures of CAN-bus circuits are analyzed and the maintenance management is proposed to improve the system reliability. Finally, the reliabilities of different structures are calculated and the influences of maintenance on the system reliability are analyzed. Real-time performance and reliability are two most important issues in applications of time-triggered controller area network (CAN) bus systems at present. A scheduling matrix of time-triggered CAN-bus system is established using average-loading algorithm. Periodic messages are guaranteed to transmit without delay by distributing independent transmission windows within the system matrix. Considering the traditional CAN-bus transmission mechanism and the time-triggered feature, an algorithm is improved to calculate the worst-case delay of event-triggered messages in time-triggered CAN-bus systems. The failure probability is calculated for event-triggered messages whose worst-case delay exceeds their deadlines. Different levels of redundant structures of CAN-bus circuits are analyzed and the maintenance management is proposed to improve the system reliability. Finally, the reliabilities of different structures are calculated and the influences of maintenance on the system reliability are analyzed.