Volkswagen reliability: MOT pass rates by model and year

Across the Volkswagen models we hold data for, 1,389,571 MOT tests give an average first-time pass rate of 80.8%, above the 80.5% national average for cars aged 3 to 8. The strongest single dataset is the 2017 Golf at 87%; the weakest is the 2014 Polo at 69.5%. Pick a model to see how it holds up as it ages and what examiners flag.

What fails across Volkswagen

The components examiners flag most often on Volkswagens, averaged across every model and year we hold and weighted by test volume. The Volkswagens in this data are a mix of petrol and diesel (33% diesel), which shapes both the emissions failures above and the running costs.

Brakes38.9%

Lights & electrics5.2%

Emissions & leaks3.1%

Body & structure2%

Share of tests flagging each component as a fail or advisory, across all Volkswagen models we hold.

Golf

84.3% avg

2017 211,470 tests 87% 2016 197,348 tests 85.9% 2015 204,479 tests 83.7% 2014 195,016 tests 80.5%

Polo

75.9% avg

2017 138,089 tests 80.2% 2016 155,566 tests 78.1% 2015 154,805 tests 75.4% 2014 132,798 tests 69.5%

First-time MOT pass rate · DVSA bulk data · 2022-2024 · class 4 cars · updated 2026-07-07