MOT reliability
Volkswagen Passat
601,376 vehicles · 6,981,131 completed MOT tests analysed
74%
MOT pass rate
Based on 601,376 Volkswagen Passat vehicles and 6,981,131 completed MOT tests, the Volkswagen Passat has an overall 74% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 147,486 miles.
601,376
Vehicles
6,981,131
MOT tests
10,917
Avg miles / year
2
Faults per test
2%
Dangerous-fault share
Volkswagen Passat problem areas
Where faults occur most across all Volkswagen Passat MOT tests:
-
Other75%
-
Tyres, wheels & suspension20%
-
Brakes9%
-
Lamps & electrical3%
-
Emissions & nuisance3%
-
Steering2%
-
Body & structure2%
-
Visibility1%
Volkswagen Passat pass rate by age
How the Volkswagen Passat's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).
| Age (years) | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,104 | 92% |
| 2 | 19,115 | 85% |
| 3 | 491,325 | 83% |
| 4 | 508,177 | 83% |
| 5 | 536,229 | 80% |
| 6 | 569,087 | 78% |
| 7 | 601,188 | 76% |
| 8 | 619,570 | 74% |
| 9 | 604,815 | 72% |
| 10 | 569,798 | 70% |
| 11 | 521,121 | 69% |
| 12 | 459,637 | 68% |
| 13 | 389,208 | 68% |
| 14 | 316,162 | 67% |
| 15 | 240,197 | 67% |
| 16 | 174,957 | 67% |
| 17 | 121,527 | 67% |
| 18 | 81,665 | 67% |
| 19 | 53,517 | 67% |
| 20 | 35,207 | 67% |
Fuel types: Diesel (458,702), Petrol (135,836), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (6,541), LPG (233), Other (29), Electric (21), Gas Bi-Fuel (9), Steam (2)
Most common Volkswagen Passat MOT faults
These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volkswagen Passat MOT tests:
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (282,736 times)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (274,375 times)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (218,705 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (203,981 times)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (151,706 times)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (144,620 times)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (142,578 times)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (125,089 times)
- Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (117,838 times)
- Oil leak (110,771 times)
- Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) (101,909 times)
- Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt (97,143 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (95,692 times)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (94,442 times)
- Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d) (94,249 times)
Volkswagen Passat pass rate by registration year
| Year | Vehicles | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 70,292 |
| 2024 | 3 | 6 | 83% | 60,095 |
| 2023 | 407 | 650 | 90% | 47,405 |
| 2022 | 1,092 | 2,042 | 88% | 53,002 |
| 2021 | 1,389 | 4,193 | 88% | 65,069 |
| 2020 | 1,769 | 6,940 | 89% | 67,281 |
| 2019 | 6,687 | 34,000 | 88% | 81,584 |
| 2018 | 11,938 | 73,310 | 86% | 94,226 |
| 2017 | 15,861 | 115,327 | 86% | 104,974 |
| 2016 | 17,871 | 143,525 | 84% | 115,915 |
| 2015 | 19,023 | 173,182 | 83% | 124,186 |
| 2014 | 18,435 | 192,471 | 81% | 128,514 |
| 2013 | 16,118 | 183,478 | 80% | 137,239 |
| 2012 | 21,033 | 250,348 | 79% | 147,191 |
| 2011 | 26,968 | 336,581 | 79% | 153,625 |
| 2010 | 19,937 | 275,668 | 76% | 155,529 |
| 2009 | 23,642 | 334,794 | 76% | 153,589 |
| 2008 | 27,500 | 380,698 | 76% | 155,363 |
| 2007 | 34,233 | 482,908 | 76% | 158,412 |
| 2006 | 35,053 | 496,957 | 73% | 156,088 |
| 2005 | 32,359 | 461,772 | 72% | 155,603 |
| 2004 | 28,979 | 437,444 | 72% | 160,509 |
| 2003 | 34,089 | 510,639 | 72% | 157,663 |
| 2002 | 35,124 | 496,480 | 71% | 156,455 |
| 2001 | 31,561 | 400,724 | 69% | 153,458 |
| 2000 | 23,589 | 283,507 | 66% | 156,189 |
| 1999 | 27,963 | 306,064 | 65% | 154,404 |
| 1998 | 29,050 | 284,385 | 64% | 153,710 |
| 1997 | 14,254 | 125,573 | 63% | 149,873 |
| 1996 | 6,887 | 49,855 | 65% | 145,980 |
| 1995 | 5,536 | 34,598 | 64% | 144,837 |
| 1994 | 6,661 | 36,689 | 63% | 147,358 |
| 1993 | 3,395 | 16,514 | 62% | 151,242 |
| 1992 | 3,445 | 15,295 | 62% | 149,731 |
| 1991 | 2,512 | 10,723 | 63% | 148,810 |
| 1990 | 2,232 | 9,426 | 62% | 155,298 |
| 1989 | 1,416 | 5,627 | 63% | 153,633 |
| 1988 | 530 | 2,166 | 62% | 146,576 |
| 1987 | 443 | 2,111 | 66% | 146,492 |
| 1986 | 280 | 1,258 | 67% | 129,757 |
| 1985 | 154 | 753 | 67% | 109,800 |
| 1984 | 85 | 445 | 64% | 121,423 |
| 1983 | 73 | 486 | 65% | 122,142 |
| 1982 | 63 | 350 | 64% | 133,333 |
| 1981 | 19 | 92 | 61% | 117,796 |
| 1980 | 5 | 52 | 81% | 259,894 |
| 1979 | 9 | 50 | 70% | 94,704 |
| 1978 | 6 | 20 | 85% | 100,072 |
| 1977 | 5 | 20 | 65% | 73,046 |
| 1976 | 3 | 10 | 60% | 85,487 |
| 1975 | 9 | 38 | 79% | 64,477 |
| 1974 | 5 | 17 | 76% | 62,540 |
| 1973 | 4 | 57 | 63% | 55,537 |
| 1972 | 1 | 26 | 73% | 92,517 |
| 1971 | 49 | 277 | 65% | 160,293 |
| 1970 | 1 | 13 | 54% | 31,883 |
Volkswagen Passat reliability FAQ
Across 601,376 Volkswagen Passat vehicles in our MOT data,
74% pass the MOT (a 26% failure rate), with about
2 faults or advisories recorded per test.
The most frequently recorded Volkswagen Passat MOT issues are:
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).
The typical Volkswagen Passat in our data has covered around
147,486 miles.
Compare the Volkswagen Passat
See how the Volkswagen Passat stacks up against other Volkswagen models on MOT reliability:
Check a specific Volkswagen Passat
Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.
See all Volkswagen models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks