Which Volkswagen models fail their MOT most
22.6% of Volkswagen cars fail first time, against 24.5% across every make. That is 1.9 points better than average, measured over 2,143,437 DVSA tests on 39 models.
Every Volkswagen in the data
Sorted by how many tests each one contributes, so the models most people actually buy come first. A linked row has a page of its own.
| Model | Years | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | 2014–2017 | 270,518 | 15.7% |
| Golf | 2010–2013 | 210,225 | 30.4% |
| Polo | 2014–2017 | 194,592 | 24.4% |
| Polo | 2010–2013 | 156,937 | 38.1% |
| Golf | 2018–2021 | 118,979 | 11.2% |
| Polo | 2018–2021 | 95,164 | 16.4% |
| Tiguan | 2014–2017 | 81,203 | 16.6% |
| Transporter | 2014–2017 | 73,528 | 24.4% |
| Up | 2014–2017 | 63,402 | 19.2% |
| Passat | 2014–2017 | 62,118 | 20.9% |
| Passat | 2010–2013 | 58,481 | 33.2% |
| Tiguan | 2018–2021 | 55,417 | 11.6% |
| T-Roc | 2018–2021 | 50,724 | 9.2% |
| Transporter | 2010–2013 | 49,912 | 31.2% |
| Caddy | 2014–2017 | 49,245 | 28.6% |
| Caddy | 2010–2013 | 44,752 | 35.4% |
| Tiguan | 2010–2013 | 35,728 | 29.9% |
| Up | 2010–2013 | 33,683 | 22.2% |
| Transporter | 2018–2021 | 33,617 | 18.4% |
| Caddy | 2018–2021 | 28,346 | 20% |
| Up | 2018–2021 | 23,252 | 11% |
| Touran | 2010–2013 | 22,892 | 33.3% |
| Scirocco | 2010–2013 | 21,658 | 35.1% |
| Passat | 2018–2021 | 19,773 | 14.3% |
| Scirocco | 2014–2017 | 19,344 | 21.8% |
| Touran | 2014–2017 | 16,699 | 21.7% |
| Touareg | 2014–2017 | 14,548 | 21.6% |
| T-Cross | 2018–2021 | 13,645 | 10% |
| Sharan | 2014–2017 | 13,230 | 21.6% |
| Sharan | 2018–2021 | 11,205 | 13.1% |
| Beetle | 2014–2017 | 10,702 | 28.1% |
| Fox | 2010–2013 | 10,443 | 44.9% |
| Amarok | 2014–2017 | 9,956 | 23.5% |
| Beetle | 2010–2013 | 9,581 | 35.7% |
| Touran | 2018–2021 | 8,851 | 14.4% |
| Golf Match Edition Tsi Evo | 2018–2021 | 8,511 | 8.2% |
| CC | 2014–2017 | 8,446 | 23.5% |
| Tiguan Match Tsi Evo | 2018–2021 | 7,733 | 10.2% |
| Polo Match Tsi | 2018–2021 | 7,413 | 8.5% |
| Sharan | 2010–2013 | 7,245 | 31.4% |
| Touareg | 2010–2013 | 6,947 | 25.2% |
| Amarok | 2018–2021 | 6,824 | 15.7% |
| Tiguan Match Tsi Evo S-A | 2018–2021 | 6,786 | 10.1% |
| E-Golf | 2018–2021 | 6,591 | 13.3% |
| CC | 2010–2013 | 6,044 | 29.5% |
| Golf Life Tsi | 2018–2021 | 5,517 | 9% |
| Arteon | 2018–2021 | 5,444 | 12.8% |
| Touareg | 2018–2021 | 5,259 | 10.8% |
| Golf Match Edition Tsi Evo S-A | 2018–2021 | 4,859 | 8.6% |
| Eos | 2010–2013 | 4,345 | 31.5% |
| Transporter T28 Startline Tdi | 2018–2021 | 4,308 | 22.8% |
| Jetta | 2010–2013 | 4,178 | 34.2% |
| Transporter T28 Highline Tdi | 2018–2021 | 4,030 | 16% |
| California | 2014–2017 | 3,776 | 18% |
| Amarok | 2010–2013 | 3,698 | 31% |
| Tiguan Match Tdi | 2018–2021 | 3,469 | 12.6% |
| Jetta | 2014–2017 | 3,410 | 27.2% |
| Caravelle | 2014–2017 | 3,346 | 24.3% |
| Tiguan R-Line Tech Tdi | 2018–2021 | 3,037 | 12.8% |
| Polo Match Evo | 2018–2021 | 2,953 | 9.8% |
| Golf Style Tsi | 2018–2021 | 2,937 | 8.3% |
| Caravelle | 2010–2013 | 2,794 | 30.8% |
| California | 2018–2021 | 2,376 | 12.1% |
| Tiguan R-Line Tech Tdi S-A | 2018–2021 | 2,308 | 13.3% |
| Tiguan R-Line Tech Tdi 4M Sa | 2018–2021 | 2,284 | 11.6% |
| Golf Match Edition Tdi | 2018–2021 | 2,117 | 10.3% |
| Tiguan Match Tdi S-A | 2018–2021 | 2,102 | 9.5% |
How a Volkswagen ages
The same manufacturer at three ages. Every make gets worse with age; what differs is how steeply, and that is the part worth knowing before you choose between a cheaper older one and a dearer newer one.
2018–2021
13.1%
555,831 tests
2014–2017
20.5%
898,063 tests
2010–2013
32.9%
689,543 tests
Best and worst in the range
Least likely to fail
- 8.2% Golf Match Edition Tsi Evo 2018–2021
- 8.5% Polo Match Tsi 2018–2021
- 9% Golf Life Tsi 2018–2021
Most likely to fail
- 44.9% Fox 2010–2013
- 38.1% Polo 2010–2013
- 35.7% Beetle 2010–2013
Cohorts with at least 5,000 tests only, so a rare model cannot top either list on thin evidence.
What actually fails on a Volkswagen
Pooled across the whole range and weighted by test count. One model's worst fault is a fact about that model; the same fault across the range is a fact about the make.
- 2.1% Tyres tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
- 2% Coil spring fractured or broken
- 1.4% Brake linings and pads less than 1.5 mm thick
- 1.3% Suspension arms pin or bush excessively worn
- 1% Tyres has ply or cords exposed
- 0.9% Suspension has a serious fluid leak
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Check the actual Volkswagen you're looking at
This page is the make. Type the registration and you get that car's own MOT history, its mileage record, its tax status and the questions to ask the seller before you travel.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023. Class 4 standard tests only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Volkswagen and its marks are the property of their owner and are used here to identify the manufacturer this page is about.