MOT fail rates by first-use year
2008 Volkswagen Jetta MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volkswagen Jetta cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 6,798 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 17 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 17 years old, Volkswagen Jetta cars first used in 2008 failed 39.4% of MOTs (1,256 tests), 3.7 points below the 43.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 36.4% to 39.4%.
- Volkswagen Jetta cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 40.2% at the same age of 17 years (2,051 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Jetta at 17 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 5.4 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 | 14 years | 36.4% | 2,107 | 40.3% | −3.8 pts |
| 2023 | 15 years | 37.7% | 1,868 | 41.6% | −3.8 pts |
| 2024 | 16 years | 41.4% | 1,567 | 42.6% | −1.1 pts |
| 2025 | 17 years | 39.4% | 1,256 | 43.1% | −3.7 pts |
Most common faults at 17 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Jetta MOTs (first used 2006 or later) at 17 years: cars first used 2006 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,227). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 5.4 | 3.2 |
| Coil spring broken | 4.9 | 3.5 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.4 | 3.0 |
| Airbag (SRS) warning light on | 3.2 | 1.2 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 3.0 | 5.8 |
| Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced | 2.9 | 0.7 |
| Handbrake too weak | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 2.7 | 1.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,227). 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 | 21.8 | 17.9 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 16.3 | 8.7 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 13.0 | 11.3 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 11.7 | 7.5 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 11.0 | 11.7 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 10.0 | 3.9 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 8.1 | 9.6 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 6.7 | 6.6 |
| Headlamp: lens slightly defective Wear | 6.5 | 3.7 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear | 6.5 | 5.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,227). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 17 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Jetta MOTs (first used 2006 or later) at 17 years: cars first used 2006 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,227). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 86.0% | 40.9% | 4,493 | 43.2% | 135,356 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 17 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Jetta MOTs (first used 2006 or later) at 17 years: cars first used 2006 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,227). At 17 years, Volkswagen Jetta cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (43.7%, n=1,710) than those at 90,000 to 120,000 miles (39.8%, n=1,215). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 39.8% | 1,215 | 46.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 41.6% | 1,437 | 47.1% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 43.7% | 1,710 | 46.5% |
Car tax rules for a 2008 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 2008 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 2008
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 40.7% | 35,438 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 48.3% | 23,302 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Passat (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 38.9% | 7,482 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Touran (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 43.8% | 4,349 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Fox (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 51.2% | 3,802 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 38.9% | 3,698 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Eos (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 37.6% | 2,140 | 43.1% |
| Volkswagen Beetle (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 50.4% | 2,139 | 43.1% |
More on the Volkswagen Jetta
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2008 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.