Volkswagen Fox Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volkswagen Fox fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 49,254 MOT tests across 7 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol
70%
Volkswagen Fox pass rate
85%
Volkswagen average
82%
All-model average
The Volkswagen Fox has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, which is 15 points below the Volkswagen average and 12 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Volkswagen Foxs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
Check Your Volkswagen Fox's MOT History
Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.
What the Volkswagen Fox Fails Its MOT On
Of the 11,495 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Fox that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
48%Cars and vans the same age: 48% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
44%Cars and vans the same age: 41% · Typical repair £150-£600
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
26%Cars and vans the same age: 15% (the Fox fails on this more often) · Typical repair £10-£350
Body, chassis and structure
24%Cars and vans the same age: 17% (the Fox fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
23%Cars and vans the same age: 14% (the Fox fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (11% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid (11% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
- Position lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
Buying a Volkswagen Fox? Check it first
See that car's own MOT history and mileage free, then check it for outstanding finance, an insurance write-off and a stolen record before you pay.
History check £4.99, one-off. No subscription.
Volkswagen Fox Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Fox year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Volkswagen Fox Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Volkswagen Fox Running Costs
Want to know the full annual running costs for the Volkswagen Fox? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.
View Volkswagen Fox Running CostsCar history check for £4.99
Finance, stolen and write-off checks
Outstanding finance with the lender's details, stolen, write-off and keeper changes. One payment, no subscription.
Comparing checks first? See the cheapest car check in the UK and the best car check providers compared.
Volkswagen Fox FAQ
What are the most common Volkswagen Fox problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volkswagen Fox that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (48% of the 11,495 failed tests), suspension (44%) and windscreen, wipers and mirrors (26%). The single most common fault was "Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure" (11%). Across 49,254 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 70% ended in a pass.
Is the Volkswagen Fox reliable?
The Volkswagen Fox has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, from 49,254 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 4 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Volkswagen Fox years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2008 (68% of 8,114 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars), the 2009 (70% of 8,835 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars) and the 2010 (71% of 13,824 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Volkswagen Fox faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volkswagen Fox typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Volkswagen Fox
Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.
Other Volkswagen Models
Common problems pages for other Volkswagen models