Volkswagen FOX MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Volkswagen FOX took 28,376 MOT tests in Britain and passed 52% of them first time, below the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.
- MOT tests in 2023
- 28,376
- First-time pass rate
- 52%
- All cars
- 71%
What the FOX fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics21.7% (all cars 11.3%)
- Suspension20.5% (all cars 9.0%)
- Visibility13.0% (all cars 4.8%)
- Body and structure11.2% (all cars 3.5%)
- Exhaust and emissions10.7% (all cars 3.1%)
- Brakes8.8% (all cars 6.8%)
- Tyres6.3% (all cars 6.4%)
- Steering3.3% (all cars 1.8%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Coil spring: fractured or broken 5.8%
- Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases 5.4%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 5.2%
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 5.1%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 4.9%
- Stop lamp: not working 4.8%
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt 4.8%
- Position lamp: not working 4.6%
Most common advisories
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 17.9%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 14.1%
- Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases 10.7%
- Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 7.7%
- Coil spring: corroded 7.4%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 5.1%
- Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread 4.0%
- Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 3.9%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,989 | 54% |
| 2007 | 5,266 | 49% |
| 2008 | 4,702 | 49% |
| 2009 | 5,031 | 53% |
| 2010 | 7,874 | 53% |
| 2011 | 2,425 | 59% |
Typical mileage by age
Average odometer reading at the MOT, by the car's age in years at the test.
| Age at test | Average mileage |
|---|---|
| 12 years | 65,899 miles |
| 13 years | 72,027 miles |
| 14 years | 72,900 miles |
| 15 years | 81,320 miles |
| 16 years | 82,470 miles |
| 17 years | 85,553 miles |
Check a particular FOX
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Other Volkswagen models
- Volkswagen Golf
- Volkswagen Polo
- Volkswagen Transporter
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volkswagen Caddy
- Volkswagen UP
- Volkswagen Touran
- Volkswagen T ROC
- Volkswagen Scirocco
- Volkswagen Beetle
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Volkswagen Sharan
- Volkswagen Amarok
- Volkswagen Caravelle
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Volkswagen T Cross
- Volkswagen CC
- Volkswagen EOS
- Volkswagen California
- Volkswagen Lupo
- Volkswagen Bora
- Volkswagen E Golf
- Volkswagen Arteon
- Volkswagen Crafter
- Volkswagen LT
- Volkswagen Camper
- Volkswagen Motor Caravan
- Volkswagen Corrado
- Volkswagen Phaeton
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.