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MOT reliability

Volkswagen Up

127,362 vehicles · 1,182,038 completed MOT tests analysed
85%
MOT pass rate

Based on 127,362 Volkswagen Up vehicles and 1,182,038 completed MOT tests, the Volkswagen Up has an overall 85% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 54,892 miles.

127,362
Vehicles
1,182,038
MOT tests
5,132
Avg miles / year
1.1
Faults per test
3%
Dangerous-fault share

Volkswagen Up problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Volkswagen Up MOT tests:

  • Tyres, wheels & suspension46%
  • Other21%
  • Brakes20%
  • Visibility6%
  • Lamps & electrical6%
  • Emissions & nuisance3%
  • Body & structure2%
  • Identification & plates1%

Volkswagen Up pass rate by age

How the Volkswagen Up's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
19189%
23,58991%
3139,29690%
4138,97188%
5139,82387%
6139,26186%
7133,71385%
8121,77784%
9108,05383%
1093,04782%
1175,97181%
1253,77780%
1328,00379%
146,52778%
153100%

Fuel types: Petrol (127,094), Electric (220), Other (29), Diesel (14), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (4), Gas Bi-Fuel (1)

Most common Volkswagen Up MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volkswagen Up MOT tests:

  1. Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (51,232 times)
  2. Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (48,527 times)
  3. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (47,276 times)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (44,515 times)
  5. Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (22,309 times)
  6. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (21,650 times)
  7. Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (21,556 times)
  8. Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (21,142 times)
  9. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (16,841 times)
  10. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (13,140 times)
  11. Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f)) (12,320 times)
  12. Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (11,709 times)
  13. Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (11,476 times)
  14. Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights (11,146 times)
  15. Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f)) (10,506 times)

Volkswagen Up pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2026 3 3 100% 64,849
2025 8 11 91% 43,854
2024 20 45 91% 75,334
2023 334 372 96% 16,706
2022 724 1,280 94% 18,428
2021 931 2,435 93% 23,537
2020 1,877 7,319 93% 26,462
2019 8,325 41,574 91% 32,896
2018 13,022 80,341 88% 38,468
2017 13,397 100,523 87% 44,891
2016 13,024 113,473 84% 48,874
2015 16,743 163,492 84% 54,724
2014 22,031 234,306 85% 61,305
2013 21,372 247,469 84% 67,717
2012 14,870 189,387 84% 74,570
2011 4 32 78% 75,376
2010 1 1 100% 60,600
2004 1 1 100% 99,726
2003 2 3 100% 42,495
1995 1 2 100% 275,409
1994 4 4 100% 199,865
1979 1 3 100% 25,797
1974 1 4 75% 43,910

Volkswagen Up reliability FAQ

Across 127,362 Volkswagen Up vehicles in our MOT data, 85% pass the MOT (a 15% failure rate), with about 1.1 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Volkswagen Up MOT issues are: Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)); Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)); Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)).

The typical Volkswagen Up in our data has covered around 54,892 miles.

Compare the Volkswagen Up

See how the Volkswagen Up stacks up against other Volkswagen models on MOT reliability:

Up vs Golf Up vs Polo Up vs Passat Up vs Transporter

Check a specific Volkswagen Up

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