Volkswagen Common MOT Problems (2026)
Volkswagen models ranked by MOT fail rate, with typical issues to check for cars of each age and type. Based on 5,792,908 MOT tests (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Average Volkswagen MOT pass rate: 85%
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See the specific issues found on your car, plus health score and running cost estimates.
85%
Avg pass rate
15%
Avg fail rate
291
Models tested
Volkswagen Models with the Most MOT Problems
Highest average fail rates (models with 1,000+ tests, cars registered up to 2021)
| # | Model | Fail Rate | Typical Issues (estimate) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen Fox | 29% | Suspension wear, Structural corrosion, Exhaust deterioration | |
| 2 | Volkswagen Beetle | 26% | Suspension wear, Structural corrosion, Lighting defects | |
| 3 | Volkswagen Lupo | 25% | DPF/emissions, Injector wear, Suspension wear | |
| 4 | Volkswagen Bora | 25% | Suspension wear, Brake disc corrosion, Structural corrosion | |
| 5 | Volkswagen Caravelle | 23% | Suspension wear, Brake disc corrosion, Structural corrosion |
Most Reliable Volkswagen Models
Lowest average fail rates (models with 1,000+ tests, cars registered up to 2021). Newer models tend to pass more often simply because they are younger.
All Volkswagen Models by Fail Rate
Every Volkswagen model and year with 300+ MOT tests (cars registered up to 2021), sorted by fail rate (highest first). Fuel type is shown as a guide.
| Model | Year | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caravelle | 1996 | 64% | 36% | |
| Sharan | 2003 | 64% | 35% | |
| Caravelle | 1994 | 63% | 35% | |
| Sharan | 2006 | 64% | 34% | |
| Caravelle | 1995 | 65% | 34% | |
| Beetle | 2007 | 67% | 33% | |
| Beetle | 2003 | 65% | 33% | |
| Beetle | 2000 | 66% | 33% | |
| Sharan | 2007 | 65% | 33% | |
| Bora | 1999 | 66% | 33% | |
| Polo | 2004 | 67% | 32% | |
| Polo | 2003 | 67% | 32% | |
| Beetle | 2004 | 67% | 32% | |
| Beetle | 2006 | 67% | 32% | |
| Beetle | 2002 | 67% | 32% | |
| Beetle | 2001 | 66% | 32% | |
| Sharan | 2005 | 64% | 32% | |
| Sharan | 2004 | 66% | 32% | |
| Polo | 2006 | 68% | 31% | |
| Polo | 2005 | 68% | 31% | |
| Polo | 2002 | 68% | 31% | |
| Fox | 2008 | 68% | 31% | |
| Beetle | 2005 | 68% | 31% | |
| Beetle | 2008 | 68% | 31% | |
| Passat | 2000 | 68% | 31% | |
| Golf | 2004 | 69% | 30% | |
| Fox | 2007 | 69% | 30% | |
| Caravelle | 1998 | 70% | 30% | |
| Sharan | 2008 | 68% | 30% | |
| Bora | 2006 | 69% | 30% | |
| Sharan | 2002 | 69% | 30% | |
| Polo | 2008 | 70% | 29% | |
| Polo | 2007 | 70% | 29% | |
| Fox | 2010 | 71% | 29% | |
| Fox | 2009 | 70% | 29% | |
| Touran | 2006 | 70% | 29% | |
| Touran | 2005 | 70% | 29% | |
| Touran | 2004 | 70% | 29% | |
| Caravelle | 1997 | 69% | 29% | |
| Caravelle | 1999 | 69% | 29% | |
| Caravelle | 2003 | 70% | 29% | |
| Sharan | 2009 | 69% | 29% | |
| Polo | 1993 | 69% | 29% | |
| Caddy | 2003 | 70% | 29% | |
| Polo | 2009 | 71% | 28% | |
| Golf | 1999 | 71% | 28% | |
| Polo | 2001 | 71% | 28% | |
| Fox | 2006 | 71% | 28% | |
| Polo | 2000 | 71% | 28% | |
| Polo | 1998 | 71% | 28% |
Showing top 50 of 533 model/year combinations. View all Volkswagen models
Volkswagen MOT FAQ
What are the most common MOT problems on Volkswagen cars?
The most common MOT problems on Volkswagen cars vary by model and age, but typically include lighting defects, suspension wear, brake wear and tyre condition, which are the most common reasons for failure across all makes in DVSA's published MOT statistics. Older Volkswagen diesels are more prone to exhaust and emissions failures. Of the Volkswagen models with at least 1,000 tests, the Volkswagen Fox has the highest average fail rate at 29%.
Which Volkswagen model is the most reliable?
In our data, the Volkswagen T-Roc SE TSI Evo has the best MOT record of the Volkswagen models with at least 1,000 tests: 96% of its 1,384 MOT tests ended in a pass and 3% in a fail. Newer models tend to pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare models of a similar age.
What is the average MOT pass rate for Volkswagen?
The average MOT pass rate for Volkswagen is 85%, based on 5,792,908 MOT tests across 291 models (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That means roughly 15% of MOT tests on Volkswagen cars ended in a fail.
Volkswagen Model Problem Guides
Typical issues to check, rough repair costs and year-by-year MOT pass rates for each Volkswagen model
Every Volkswagen model, A to Z (175)
- Volkswagen Amarok
- Volkswagen Amarok Avent BLK Ed V6TDI 4M A
- Volkswagen Amarok Aventura V6 TDI 4M A
- Volkswagen Amarok Black Ed V6 TDI 4MOT A
- Volkswagen Arteon
- Volkswagen Arteon R-Line Edition TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Beetle
- Volkswagen Bora
- Volkswagen Caddy
- Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce Pro TDI
- Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce Pro TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce TDI
- Volkswagen California
- Volkswagen California Ocean TDI 4M S-A
- Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Camper
- Volkswagen Caravelle
- Volkswagen Caravelle Executive TDI S-A
- Volkswagen CC
- Volkswagen Corrado
- Volkswagen Crafter
- Volkswagen Crafter CR35 Trendline TDI
- Volkswagen E-Golf
- Volkswagen E-Up
- Volkswagen Eos
- Volkswagen Fox
- Volkswagen Golf
- Volkswagen Golf Active TSI
- Volkswagen Golf Clubsport GTI TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf GT Edition TDI
- Volkswagen Golf GT Edition TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf GT Edition TSI Evo
- Volkswagen Golf GT Edition TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen Golf GTD TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf GTE S-A
- Volkswagen Golf GTI TSI
- Volkswagen Golf GTI TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf Life Etsi S-A
- Volkswagen Golf Life TDI
- Volkswagen Golf Life TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf Life TSI
- Volkswagen Golf Match Edition TDI
- Volkswagen Golf Match Edition TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf Match Edition TSI
- Volkswagen Golf Match Edition TSI Evo
- Volkswagen Golf Match Edition TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen Golf R TSI 4MOTION S-A
- Volkswagen Golf R-Line Edition TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf R-Line Edition TSI Evo
- Volkswagen Golf R-Line Edition TSI Evo Sa
- Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A
- Volkswagen Golf R-Line TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf R-Line TSI
- Volkswagen Golf Style Etsi S-A
- Volkswagen Golf Style TDI
- Volkswagen Golf Style TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Golf Style TSI
- Volkswagen High Up
- Volkswagen ID3 1ST Edition
- Volkswagen ID3 Business
- Volkswagen ID3 Family
- Volkswagen ID3 Life
- Volkswagen ID3 Max
- Volkswagen ID3 Style
- Volkswagen ID3 Tech
- Volkswagen ID3 Tour
- Volkswagen ID4 1ST Edition
- Volkswagen ID4 Family
- Volkswagen ID4 Life
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Volkswagen LT
- Volkswagen Lupo
- Volkswagen Motor Caravan
- Volkswagen Move Up
- Volkswagen Multivan
- Volkswagen Multivan Life PHEV S-A
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volkswagen Passat R-Line TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI
- Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Passat Sel TDI
- Volkswagen Passat Sel TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo
- Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen Phaeton
- Volkswagen Polo
- Volkswagen Polo Active TSI
- Volkswagen Polo Active TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Polo Life
- Volkswagen Polo Life TSI
- Volkswagen Polo Life TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Polo Match Evo
- Volkswagen Polo Match TSI
- Volkswagen Polo Match TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Polo Style TSI
- Volkswagen Polo United Evo
- Volkswagen Polo United TSI
- Volkswagen Polo United TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Scirocco
- Volkswagen Sharan
- Volkswagen Sharan Sel TDI S-A
- Volkswagen T-Cross
- Volkswagen T-Cross Active TSI
- Volkswagen T-Cross Active TSI S-A
- Volkswagen T-Cross R-Line TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen T-Cross United TSI
- Volkswagen T-Cross United TSI S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc
- Volkswagen T-Roc Active TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc Active TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc Black Edition TSI
- Volkswagen T-Roc Black Edition TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc Black Edition TSI Evo Sa
- Volkswagen T-Roc Design TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc Design TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc R TSI 4MOTION S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc SE TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc SE TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc Sel TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc Sel TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen T-Roc United TSI
- Volkswagen T-Roc United TSI Evo
- Volkswagen T-Roc United TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI
- Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Sel TDI
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Sel TDI 4M S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Sel TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Aspace R-Line TDI 4M Sa
- Volkswagen Tiguan Elegance TDI 4MOTION Sa
- Volkswagen Tiguan Elegance TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Elegance TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Life TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Life TSI
- Volkswagen Tiguan Life TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Match TDI
- Volkswagen Tiguan Match TDI 4MOTION
- Volkswagen Tiguan Match TDI 4MOTION S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Match TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan Match TSI Evo
- Volkswagen Tiguan Match TSI Evo S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan R TSI 4MOTION S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Tech TDI
- Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Tech TDI 4M Sa
- Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Tech TDI 4MOTION
- Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Tech TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line TSI S-A
- Volkswagen Tiguan SE Navigation TSI Evo
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Volkswagen Touareg V6 Black Edition TDI A
- Volkswagen Touareg V6 Black Edition TSI A
- Volkswagen Touareg V6 Sel Tech TDI Auto
- Volkswagen Touran
- Volkswagen TR-Porter
- Volkswagen Transporter
- Volkswagen Transporter SE TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Transporter T28 Highline TDI
- Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline TDI
- Volkswagen Transporter T30 H-Line TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Transporter T30 Highline TDI
- Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline TDI
- Volkswagen Transporter T30 TDI
- Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Line TDI S-A
- Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-LN TDI 4M Sa
- Volkswagen Transporter T32 Highline TDI
- Volkswagen Transporter T32 SE TDI BMT S-A
- Volkswagen Transporter T32 Startline TDI
- Volkswagen Up
- Volkswagen Up Black Edition
- Volkswagen Up GTI
- Volkswagen Up R-Line
Check a Specific Volkswagen
Enter any reg plate to see the individual MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.