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Volkswagen Jetta steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 7,374 MOT tests · Updated

At 16 years, 1.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Volkswagen Jetta failed on steering, against 3.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,374 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), 112 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 14 ages from 6 to 19 years, 56,076 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 16 years: 7,374 for the Volkswagen Jetta

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 16 years, against 3.4 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 16 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

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.

Volkswagen Jetta steering fails by age

Volkswagen Jetta steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Volkswagen Jetta. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0246 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 1,204 MOT tests67 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 2,415 MOT tests8 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 3,427 MOT tests89 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 4,113 MOT tests10 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 4,512 MOT tests1011 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 4,356 MOT tests12 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 3,944 MOT tests1213 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 4,133 MOT tests14 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 4,820 MOT tests1415 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 6,495 MOT tests16 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 7,374 MOT tests1617 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 5,227 MOT tests18 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 2,997 MOT tests1819 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 1,059 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Volkswagen Jetta All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
61,2040.20.5
72,4150.40.8
83,4270.51.2
94,1130.31.8
104,5120.52.1
114,3560.82.5
123,9440.52.8
134,1330.62.9
144,8200.73.2
156,4951.33.3
167,3741.53.4
175,2271.53.6
182,9971.53.9
19*1,0591.44.1

All first-use years of the Volkswagen Jetta pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 16 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

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: Track rod end: ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt.

Check one Volkswagen Jetta, not the average

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

Other Volkswagen Jetta problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

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

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years, against 3.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 7,374 MOT tests).

How common are Volkswagen Jetta steering problems?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years failed on steering, against 3.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,374 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 56,076 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