MOT reliability
Volkswagen California
8,760 vehicles · 82,039 completed MOT tests analysed
84%
MOT pass rate
Based on 8,760 Volkswagen California vehicles and 82,039 completed MOT tests, the Volkswagen California has an overall 84% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 66,574 miles.
8,760
Vehicles
82,039
MOT tests
6,050
Avg miles / year
1.3
Faults per test
3%
Dangerous-fault share
Volkswagen California problem areas
Where faults occur most across all Volkswagen California MOT tests:
-
Tyres, wheels & suspension39%
-
Other30%
-
Brakes20%
-
Lamps & electrical5%
-
Visibility4%
-
Emissions & nuisance2%
-
Body & structure2%
-
Seatbelts & equipment1%
Volkswagen California pass rate by age
How the Volkswagen California's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).
| Age (years) | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 74% |
| 2 | 176 | 89% |
| 3 | 9,634 | 89% |
| 4 | 9,472 | 88% |
| 5 | 9,643 | 86% |
| 6 | 9,701 | 86% |
| 7 | 9,048 | 84% |
| 8 | 7,806 | 83% |
| 9 | 6,355 | 82% |
| 10 | 5,133 | 82% |
| 11 | 4,109 | 81% |
| 12 | 3,111 | 80% |
| 13 | 2,355 | 79% |
| 14 | 1,598 | 78% |
| 15 | 1,032 | 77% |
| 16 | 558 | 77% |
| 17 | 364 | 76% |
| 18 | 272 | 76% |
| 19 | 213 | 71% |
| 20 | 159 | 71% |
Fuel types: Diesel (8,636), Petrol (123), LPG (1)
Most common Volkswagen California MOT faults
These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volkswagen California MOT tests:
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (2,784 times)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (2,728 times)
- Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (1,793 times)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (1,646 times)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (1,563 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (1,503 times)
- Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i)) (1,113 times)
- Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (1,061 times)
- Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (1,052 times)
- Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i)) (1,049 times)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (1,040 times)
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (996 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (991 times)
- Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (906 times)
- Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b)) (838 times)
Volkswagen California pass rate by registration year
| Year | Vehicles | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | 50% | 5,442 |
| 2023 | 2 | 4 | 100% | 2,565 |
| 2022 | 6 | 10 | 100% | 28,689 |
| 2021 | 10 | 26 | 85% | 34,801 |
| 2020 | 116 | 447 | 89% | 33,788 |
| 2019 | 1,162 | 5,659 | 89% | 41,421 |
| 2018 | 1,187 | 7,211 | 88% | 48,339 |
| 2017 | 1,331 | 9,958 | 88% | 55,901 |
| 2016 | 867 | 7,300 | 86% | 61,775 |
| 2015 | 928 | 8,988 | 85% | 66,833 |
| 2014 | 764 | 8,308 | 84% | 75,139 |
| 2013 | 611 | 7,346 | 84% | 79,527 |
| 2012 | 611 | 8,279 | 81% | 81,177 |
| 2011 | 403 | 5,869 | 82% | 81,973 |
| 2010 | 344 | 5,461 | 81% | 84,025 |
| 2009 | 55 | 915 | 81% | 93,034 |
| 2008 | 80 | 1,449 | 81% | 98,161 |
| 2007 | 63 | 1,135 | 79% | 128,086 |
| 2006 | 42 | 725 | 79% | 107,875 |
| 2005 | 24 | 467 | 71% | 160,517 |
| 2004 | 12 | 176 | 74% | 168,574 |
| 2003 | 12 | 276 | 72% | 172,877 |
| 2002 | 13 | 298 | 74% | 189,072 |
| 2001 | 9 | 198 | 77% | 234,341 |
| 2000 | 4 | 68 | 79% | 122,798 |
| 1999 | 8 | 171 | 69% | 274,606 |
| 1998 | 9 | 97 | 66% | 264,772 |
| 1997 | 5 | 111 | 68% | 211,011 |
| 1996 | 4 | 71 | 76% | 300,287 |
| 1995 | 8 | 121 | 75% | 190,282 |
| 1994 | 4 | 34 | 56% | 221,820 |
| 1993 | 10 | 167 | 65% | 277,051 |
| 1992 | 3 | 19 | 79% | 263,949 |
| 1991 | 13 | 207 | 67% | 308,181 |
| 1990 | 5 | 82 | 73% | 241,643 |
| 1989 | 9 | 158 | 77% | 270,579 |
| 1987 | 1 | 13 | 62% | 171,231 |
| 1986 | 1 | 14 | 50% | 56,401 |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 267,419 |
| 1984 | 4 | 28 | 75% | 132,944 |
| 1982 | 2 | 38 | 58% | 80,231 |
| 1979 | 1 | 23 | 78% | 112,935 |
| 1978 | 2 | 9 | 67% | 60,786 |
| 1977 | 1 | 11 | 64% | 55,528 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 22,559 |
| 1975 | 2 | 41 | 76% | 71,157 |
| 1971 | 3 | 21 | 65% | 58,646 |
| 1970 | 1 | 17 | 71% | 58,105 |
| 1968 | 1 | 16 | 75% | 257,857 |
| 1966 | 1 | 7 | 71% | 96,187 |
| 1964 | 1 | 9 | 78% | 58,860 |
Volkswagen California reliability FAQ
Across 8,760 Volkswagen California vehicles in our MOT data,
84% pass the MOT (a 16% failure rate), with about
1.3 faults or advisories recorded per test.
The most frequently recorded Volkswagen California MOT issues are:
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)); Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)); Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)).
The typical Volkswagen California in our data has covered around
66,574 miles.
Compare the Volkswagen California
See how the Volkswagen California stacks up against other Volkswagen models on MOT reliability:
Check a specific Volkswagen California
Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.
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