MOT fail rates by first-use year
2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volkswagen Jetta cars first used in 2006 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 6,747 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 19 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 19 years old, Volkswagen Jetta cars first used in 2006 failed 41.5% of MOTs (1,059 tests), 1.7 points below the 43.2% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 16 to 19 years old, the fail rate moved from 41.6% to 41.5%.
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Jetta at 19 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 4.6 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16 years | 41.6% | 2,347 | 42.6% | −1.0 pts |
| 2023 | 17 years | 40.8% | 1,920 | 43.1% | −2.2 pts |
| 2024 | 18 years | 41.0% | 1,421 | 43.3% | −2.3 pts |
| 2025 | 19 years | 41.5% | 1,059 | 43.2% | −1.7 pts |
Most common faults at 19 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Jetta MOTs (first used 2006 or later) at 19 years: cars first used in 2006, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,059). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Side/position light not working Wear | 4.7 | 5.4 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 4.6 | 3.2 |
| Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced | 4.4 | 0.9 |
| Airbag (SRS) warning light on | 4.3 | 1.4 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Coil spring broken | 3.8 | 2.8 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 3.7 | 2.3 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 3.7 | 2.6 |
| Handbrake too weak | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.1 | 2.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,059). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 21.2 | 16.6 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 19.5 | 8.1 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 16.2 | 7.9 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 14.1 | 10.8 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 14.1 | 13.2 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 9.4 | 9.9 |
| Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Wear | 9.3 | 3.9 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 9.1 | 3.9 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear | 7.9 | 5.8 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 7.6 | 5.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,059). A test with two items counts once for each.
Car tax rules for a 2006 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2006 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Volkswagen Jetta
Other Volkswagen models first used in 2006
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 43.3% | 24,358 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Polo (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 51.1% | 17,528 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Passat (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 42.4% | 3,928 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Touran (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 46.7% | 3,065 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Beetle (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 50.7% | 2,525 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Fox (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 47.9% | 2,186 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Touareg (2006) | 19 years in 2025 | 36.5% | 1,388 | 43.2% |
| Volkswagen Eos (2006) | 17 years in 2023 | 39.6% | 1,230 | 43.1% |
More on the Volkswagen Jetta
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2006 Volkswagen Jetta cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.