Volkswagen Jetta Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volkswagen Jetta 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 24,768 MOT tests across 15 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
77%
Volkswagen Jetta pass rate
85%
Volkswagen average
82%
All-model average
The Volkswagen Jetta has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, which is 8 points below the Volkswagen average and 5 points below the average across all models in our data. The Volkswagen Jetta has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 1 percentage point.
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What the Volkswagen Jetta Fails Its MOT On
Of the 4,003 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Jetta 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.
Suspension
47%Cars and vans the same age: 38% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
32%Cars and vans the same age: 44% (the Jetta fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
24%Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
20%Cars and vans the same age: 19% · Typical repair £50-£300
Body, chassis and structure
18%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (17% of failed tests, suspension)
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (11% of failed tests, suspension)
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (9.1% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
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.
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Volkswagen Jetta 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 Jetta 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
- 2010: 79% passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars (4 points higher, 1,138 tests)
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 Jetta 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.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.4L | 81% | 18% | - |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.4L | 82% | 17% | 86% (-4) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.4L | 80% | 19% | 84% (-4) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 1.6L | 78% | 22% | 82% (-4) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 1.6L | 77% | 22% | 80% (-3) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 1.6L | 78% | 21% | 79% (-1) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 1.6L | 78% | 22% | 77% (+1) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 1.6L | 79% | 21% | 75% (+4) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.4L | 77% | 22% | 75% (+2) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 1.6L | 72% | 26% | 74% (-2) |
| 2007 | Diesel | 2.0L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2006 | Diesel | 1.6L | 74% | 24% | 73% (+1) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.0L | 62% | 35% | - |
| 1991 | Petrol | 1.6L | 87% | 13% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 1.8L | 82% | 17% | - |
Volkswagen Jetta Running Costs
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Volkswagen Jetta FAQ
What are the most common Volkswagen Jetta problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volkswagen Jetta that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (47% of the 4,003 failed tests), lights and electrics (32%) and brakes (24%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (17%). Across 24,768 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 77% ended in a pass.
Is the Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The Volkswagen Jetta has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, from 24,768 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 within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Volkswagen Jetta years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2015 (80% of 2,021 tests passed, against 84% for all 2015 cars), the 2014 (78% of 1,754 tests passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars) and the 2016 (82% of 1,321 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2010 (79% of 1,138 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars). 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 Jetta faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volkswagen Jetta 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.
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Other Volkswagen Models
Common problems pages for other Volkswagen models