Volkswagen ID 3 MOT failures and reliability

The Volkswagen ID 3 is one of the stronger cars at the MOT: 89% of its 1,698 tests in 2025 were passed first time, 17 points better than the 72% for all cars. Half the Volkswagen ID 3 cars tested were registered in 2022 or later, and younger cars pass more often. That ranks it 5th of the 36 Volkswagen models we cover. Every figure here comes from the DVSA's record of each Volkswagen ID 3 MOT, so it shows what testers found rather than what owners report.

MOT tests in 2025

1,698

First-time pass rate

89%

All cars

72%

Volkswagen ID 3 MOT strengths and weak spots

The Volkswagen ID 3's weak spot is tyres: 8.3% of its tests failed there, against 6.3% for all cars.

It does best on lights and electrics, where 1.8% of Volkswagen ID 3 tests failed against 10.7% for all cars.

At 3 years old the average Volkswagen ID 3 had covered 25,983 miles, about 8,700 a year.

The single most common failure on the Volkswagen ID 3 was tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, on 3.1% of tests.

What the Volkswagen ID 3 fails on

Share of Volkswagen ID 3 tests with at least one failure in each area, beside the figure for all cars.

• Tyres8.3% (all cars 6.3%)
• Lights and electrics1.8% (all cars 10.7%)
• Visibility0.7% (all cars 4.4%)
• Seat belts and airbags0.4% (all cars 0.9%)
• Brakes0.4% (all cars 6.3%)
• Suspension0.2% (all cars 9.1%)
• Wheels0.1% (all cars 0.4%)
• Body and structure0.1% (all cars 3.3%)

Most common failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

1. Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3.1%
2. Tyres, condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 3.0%
3. Tyres, condition: has ply or cords exposed 2.4%
4. Headlamp aim: too high 1.5%
5. Service brake performance: excessively fluctuating 0.4%
6. Tyres, condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 0.2%
7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 0.2%
8. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 0.2%

Most common advisories

1. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 26.3%
2. Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt 2.3%
3. Tyres, condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords 2.2%
4. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre 1.5%
5. Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 1.1%
6. Service brake performance: fluctuating, but not excessively 0.9%
7. Non-component advisories: Items removed from driver's view prior to test 0.7%
8. Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread 0.7%

Check a particular Volkswagen ID 3

The figures above tell you what to look out for on any Volkswagen ID 3. For one Volkswagen ID 3's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration for a free MOT check.

Other Volkswagen models

• Volkswagen Golf
• Volkswagen Polo
• Volkswagen Transporter
• Volkswagen Tiguan
• Volkswagen Passat
• Volkswagen Caddy
• Volkswagen UP
• Volkswagen T ROC
• Volkswagen Touran
• Volkswagen Scirocco
• Volkswagen Beetle
• Volkswagen Touareg
• Volkswagen Sharan
• Volkswagen T Cross
• Volkswagen FOX
• Volkswagen Amarok
• Volkswagen Caravelle
• Volkswagen CC
• Volkswagen California
• Volkswagen Jetta
• Volkswagen EOS
• Volkswagen Arteon
• Volkswagen Crafter
• Volkswagen ID3 Family
• Volkswagen E Golf
• Volkswagen Lupo
• Volkswagen Bora
• Volkswagen E UP
• Volkswagen LT
• Volkswagen Multivan
• Volkswagen Camper
• Volkswagen Motor Caravan
• Volkswagen ID3 Tour
• Volkswagen Corrado
• Volkswagen ID4 Family

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025, 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.