Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Volkswagen models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Volkswagen models have the fewest MOT fails?

259,429 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years put the Volkswagen T-Roc first: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Volkswagen Touareg: 22% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: Which Volkswagen models fail their MOT most often?

69,220 MOT tests at 11 to 15 years put the Volkswagen Fox last of the 20 in this list: 27% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: How many Volkswagen models are compared?

20 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 8,309,228 MOT tests in all; 4 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 8,309,228 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Volkswagen T-Roc has the fewest MOT fails among Volkswagen models: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (259,429 MOT tests) ^[1].

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20 models ranked, 4 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 8,309,228 MOT tests ^[1]
Volkswagen Touareg is next: 22% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (122,885 MOT tests)
Volkswagen Fox is last of the 20: 27% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (69,220 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

Fewest MOT fails: Volkswagen T-Roc, 30% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#2 for fewest MOT fails: Volkswagen Touareg, 22% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#3 for fewest MOT fails: Volkswagen Golf, 21% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#4 for fewest MOT fails: Volkswagen Tiguan, 20% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Volkswagen models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 20 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 20 of 20. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
1certain	Volkswagen T-Rocsmall SUV	30% fewer fails (29–31% fewer)	9.2%all cars: 13.1%	9.1%	259,429at 3 to 7 years	Volkswagen T-Roc MOT fail rate · Volkswagen T-Roc common problems
22–3	Volkswagen Touareglarge SUV	22% fewer fails (21–23% fewer)	19.1%all cars: 24.6%	20.8%	122,885at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Touareg MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Touareg common problems
32–3	Volkswagen Golffamily hatchback	21% fewer fails (21.1–21.4% fewer)	20.6%all cars: 26.1%	21.4%	2,847,847at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Golf MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Golf common problems
4certain	Volkswagen Tiguanfamily SUV	20% fewer fails (20–21% fewer)	16.7%all cars: 20.9%	17.6%	884,392at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Tiguan MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Tiguan common problems
55–6	Volkswagen Passatexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.85 (0.84–0.85)	23.8%all cars: 28.0%	26.4%	646,452at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Passat MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Passat common problems
65–7	Volkswagen CCexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.85 (0.84–0.86)	24.1%all cars: 28.3%	26.4%	55,542at 6 to 13 years	Volkswagen CC MOT fail rate · Volkswagen CC common problems
76–10	Volkswagen Eossports car	close to averageratio 0.87 (0.85–0.88)	33.9%all cars: 39.1%	33.6%	31,108at 10 to 15 years	Volkswagen Eos MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Eos common problems
87–11	Volkswagen SharanMPV	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.88–0.90)	20.1%all cars: 22.6%	22.4%	131,288at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Sharan MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Sharan common problems
97–13	Volkswagen Arteonexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.86–0.92)	12.0%all cars: 13.6%	13.1%	28,161at 3 to 7 years	Volkswagen Arteon MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Arteon common problems
107–13	Volkswagen ID.3family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.87–0.92)	10.2%all cars: 11.4%	10.4%	45,162at 3 to 5 years	Volkswagen ID.3 MOT fail rate · Volkswagen ID.3 common problems
118–12	Volkswagen up!city car	close to averageratio 0.90 (0.89–0.90)	21.7%all cars: 24.1%	19.0%	498,904at 3 to 13 years	Volkswagen up! MOT fail rate · Volkswagen up! common problems
1210–13	Volkswagen TouranMPV	close to averageratio 0.91 (0.91–0.92)	26.9%all cars: 29.5%	28.7%	227,516at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Touran MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Touran common problems
139–15	Volkswagen T-Crosssmall SUV	close to averageratio 0.92 (0.90–0.94)	11.2%all cars: 12.2%	10.5%	75,226at 3 to 6 years	Volkswagen T-Cross MOT fail rate · Volkswagen T-Cross common problems
1413–15	Volkswagen Scirocco (first used from 2008)sports car	close to averageratio 0.93 (0.93–0.94)	28.5%all cars: 30.6%	30.0%	181,418at 5 to 15 years	Volkswagen Scirocco MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Scirocco common problems
1513–15	Volkswagen Jetta (first used from 2006)family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.94 (0.93–0.96)	31.4%all cars: 33.3%	33.0%	38,682at 6 to 15 years	Volkswagen Jetta MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Jetta common problems
16certain	Volkswagen e-Golffamily hatchback	close to averageratio 1.07 (1.04–1.11)	13.9%all cars: 13.0%	13.5%	23,124at 3 to 6 years	Volkswagen e-Golf MOT fail rate · Volkswagen e-Golf common problems
17certain	Volkswagen Polosupermini	close to averageratio 1.14 (1.14–1.15)	29.7%all cars: 25.9%	28.5%	2,032,705at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Polo MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Polo common problems
18certain	Volkswagen Beetlefamily hatchback	close to averageratio 1.18 (1.17–1.19)	36.0%all cars: 30.4%	34.4%	97,181at 5 to 15 years	Volkswagen Beetle MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Beetle common problems
1919–20	Volkswagen Tiguan Allspacelarge SUV	close to averageratio 1.27 (1.22–1.32)	15.6%all cars: 12.3%	17.1%	12,986at 3 to 6 years	Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace common problems
2019–20	Volkswagen Foxcity car	27% more fails (26–28% more)	50.6%all cars: 39.8%	46.8%	69,220at 11 to 15 years	Volkswagen Fox MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Fox common problems

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · 30% fewer MOT fails

Volkswagen T-Roc

Why it ranks here: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.69–0.71), from 259,429 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 9.2% (9.0%–9.3%), against 13.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 9.1%. Rank range 1–1.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.7–1.9× as often as cars the same age (1,456 fails in 260,443 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

2 · 22% fewer MOT fails

Volkswagen Touareg

Why it ranks here: 22% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.77–0.79), from 122,885 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.1% (18.9%–19.3%), against 24.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 20.8%. Rank range 2–3.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (1,071 fails in 124,067 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on number plates and VIN 1.3–1.5× as often as cars the same age (492 fails in 124,067 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

3 · 21% fewer MOT fails

Volkswagen Golf

Why it ranks here: 21% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.79–0.79), from 2,847,847 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 20.6% (20.5%–20.6%), against 26.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 21.4%. Rank range 2–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 49% diesel, 49% petrol.

4 · 20% fewer MOT fails

Volkswagen Tiguan

Why it ranks here: 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.79–0.80), from 884,392 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 16.7% (16.6%–16.7%), against 20.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 17.6%. Rank range 4–4.

Check before you buy: fails on suspension 1.20–1.22× as often as cars the same age (54,869 fails in 887,958 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 76% diesel, 23% petrol.

5 · About average

Volkswagen Passat

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.84–0.85), from 646,452 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 23.8% (23.7%–23.8%), against 28.0% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.4%. Rank range 5–6.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.9–2.0× as often as cars the same age (8,962 fails in 650,044 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on tyres 1.28–1.30× as often as cars the same age (55,303 fails in 650,044 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

6 · About average

Volkswagen CC

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.84–0.86), from 55,542 MOT tests at 6 to 13 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 24.1% (23.7%–24.4%), against 28.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.4%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 2.1–2.4× as often as cars the same age (771 fails in 56,184 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on tyres 1.37–1.44× as often as cars the same age (5,330 fails in 56,184 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

7 · About average

Volkswagen Eos

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.85–0.88), from 31,108 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 33.9% (33.3%–34.4%), against 39.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 33.6%. Rank range 6–10.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a sports car; the ones tested were 55% diesel, 45% petrol.

8 · About average

Volkswagen Sharan

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.88–0.90), from 131,288 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 20.1% (19.9%–20.3%), against 22.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.4%. Rank range 7–11.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.5–1.7× as often as cars the same age (1,135 fails in 132,347 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on emissions and leaks 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (3,801 fails in 132,347 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

9 · About average

Volkswagen Arteon

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.86–0.92), from 28,161 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 12.0% (11.7%–12.4%), against 13.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 13.1%. Rank range 7–13.

Check before you buy: fails on tyres 1.5–1.6× as often as cars the same age (2,292 fails in 28,742 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 58% petrol, 40% diesel.

10 · About average

Volkswagen ID.3

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.87–0.92), from 45,162 MOT tests at 3 to 5 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 10.2% (9.9%–10.4%), against 11.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 10.4%. Rank range 7–13.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly electric.

How to choose Volkswagen models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 30% fewer (Volkswagen T-Roc) to 27% more (Volkswagen Fox).
4 of the 20 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often; the other 15 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 7 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

8,309,228 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which Volkswagen models have the fewest MOT fails?

259,429 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years put the Volkswagen T-Roc first: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Volkswagen Touareg: 22% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which Volkswagen models fail their MOT most often?

69,220 MOT tests at 11 to 15 years put the Volkswagen Fox last of the 20 in this list: 27% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

How many Volkswagen models are compared?

20 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 8,309,228 MOT tests in all; 4 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 1 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 8,309,228 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.