Volkswagen MOT pass rates and reliability
We have 3,018,878 MOT tests on Volkswagen cars from 2023, covering 31 models with enough tests to compare. Choose a model to see what it fails on most often, how its pass rate changes with age and how far it is typically driven.
Across 3,018,878 MOT tests on Volkswagen cars in 2023, 72% passed first time, close to the national average of 71% for all cars. Of the Volkswagen models with enough tests, the T ROC did best at 91% and the FOX did least well at 52%. Newer models pass more often whatever the make, so compare cars of a similar age.
Volkswagen models
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Golf | 919,356 | 74% |
| Polo | 624,655 | 67% |
| Transporter | 295,323 | 68% |
| Tiguan | 220,514 | 82% |
| Passat | 206,114 | 71% |
| Caddy | 148,062 | 69% |
| UP | 121,482 | 82% |
| Touran | 78,448 | 67% |
| T ROC | 55,067 | 91% |
| Scirocco | 48,807 | 70% |
| Beetle | 48,472 | 59% |
| Touareg | 37,548 | 76% |
| Sharan | 37,521 | 75% |
| FOX | 28,376 | 52% |
| Amarok | 21,413 | 78% |
| Caravelle | 18,695 | 65% |
| Jetta | 15,432 | 65% |
| T Cross | 14,676 | 90% |
| CC | 14,452 | 74% |
| EOS | 13,770 | 65% |
| California | 9,079 | 82% |
| Lupo | 6,876 | 60% |
| Bora | 6,679 | 58% |
| E Golf | 6,572 | 87% |
| Arteon | 6,563 | 87% |
| Crafter | 5,765 | 70% |
| LT | 2,769 | 55% |
| Camper | 2,434 | 64% |
| Motor Caravan | 1,638 | 67% |
| Corrado | 1,314 | 73% |
| Phaeton | 1,006 | 75% |
What Volkswagen cars fail on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, across all models, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics10.0% (all cars 11.3%)
- Suspension9.6% (all cars 9.0%)
- Brakes6.7% (all cars 6.8%)
- Tyres6.5% (all cars 6.4%)
- Visibility4.5% (all cars 4.8%)
- Body and structure4.0% (all cars 3.5%)
- Exhaust and emissions3.7% (all cars 3.1%)
- Steering1.4% (all cars 1.8%)
Most common Volkswagen failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Coil spring: fractured or broken 2.7%
- Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2.4%
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt 1.6%
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction 1.4%
- Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn 1.2%
- Position lamp: not working 1.1%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 1.1%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick 1.0%
Check a particular Volkswagen
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.