Volkswagen Kombi vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volkswagen Kombi
70%
MOT pass rate · 731 vehicles
Volkswagen Passat
74%
MOT pass rate · 601,376 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volkswagen Passat is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volkswagen Kombi | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 70% | 74% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 30% | 26% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.5 | 2.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% ✓ | 2% |
| Average mileage | 70,252 mi | 147,486 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 731 | 601,376 |
Most common faults
Volkswagen Kombi
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Oil leak
- Horn not working (1.6.2a)
- Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)
- Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)
Volkswagen Passat
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volkswagen Passat is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volkswagen Kombi report Full Volkswagen Passat report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.