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Volkswagen Amarok steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 10,584 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 1.6 in 100 MOT tests of the Volkswagen Amarok failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,584 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 174 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 11 ages from 3 to 13 years, 82,102 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Steering rack: insecure to the extent there is excessive movement at the mountings, 0.7 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.6 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated dangerous by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The Volkswagen Amarok is a commercial or van-based vehicle: it is compared with all class 4 vehicles, cars and vans together, so part of any difference can come from how vans are used.

Volkswagen Amarok steering fails by age

Volkswagen Amarok steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Volkswagen Amarok. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.01233 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 5,134 MOT tests34 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 7,975 MOT tests45 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 9,821 MOT tests56 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 10,584 MOT tests67 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 10,206 MOT tests78 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 9,767 MOT tests89 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 9,363 MOT tests910 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 8,079 MOT tests1011 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 5,844 MOT tests1112 years: 2.9 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 3,576 MOT tests1213 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 1,753 MOT tests13
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Volkswagen Amarok All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
35,1340.50.1
47,9750.80.2
59,8211.20.3
610,5841.60.5
710,2061.80.8
89,7672.21.2
99,3632.11.8
108,0792.32.1
115,8442.72.5
123,5762.92.8
131,7533.32.9

All first-use years of the Volkswagen Amarok pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the steering at 6 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

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How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Steering rack: has slight free play detected at steering wheel.

Check one Volkswagen Amarok, not the average

The figures here describe Volkswagen Amarok cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Volkswagen Amarok problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Volkswagen Amarok have more steering problems than other cars?

1.6 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 10,584 MOT tests).

How common are Volkswagen Amarok steering problems?

1.6 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,584 MOT tests).

What is the most common Volkswagen Amarok steering fail?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years: Steering rack: insecure to the extent there is excessive movement at the mountings (69 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 82,102 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare