Volkswagen California MOT pass rate: 81.5% (8,376 tests, 2025)

The Volkswagen California passed 81.5% of its 8,376 MOT tests in 2025 — 4.0 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 9 years old with 56,315 miles on the clock.

81.5%Pass rate (2025)

8,376MOT tests analysed

56,315 miMedian mileage at test

9 yrsMedian age at test

How the California compares

Volkswagen California

81.5%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Volkswagen average (all models)

77.6%

What fails most on the Volkswagen California

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the California:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	810	30.6%
2	Tyres	588	22.2%
3	Brakes	543	20.5%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	225	8.5%
5	Visibility	151	5.7%
6	Body, chassis, structure	136	5.1%

Pre-MOT checklist for California owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

California pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2012	1,753	78.4%	+7.2 pts	70,193
2013	1,761	80.9%	+7.6 pts	66,361
2014	2,195	80.5%	+4.6 pts	63,298
2015	2,685	82.3%	+3.6 pts	55,140
2016	2,510	83.0%	+1.7 pts	51,076
2017	3,840	84.8%	+0.8 pts	45,123
2018	3,375	86.9%	+0.6 pts	36,292
2019	3,294	88.7%	+0.4 pts	29,504

Check a specific California before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Volkswagen models

Golf77.8% pass rate · 782,869 tests Polo71.4% pass rate · 577,151 tests Transporter70.7% pass rate · 269,178 tests Tiguan81.4% pass rate · 184,098 tests Passat75.3% pass rate · 166,958 tests Caddy73.4% pass rate · 139,412 tests Up84.1% pass rate · 121,528 tests Touran73.2% pass rate · 67,815 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Volkswagen California?

In 2025, 81.5% of 8,376 first MOT tests on the Volkswagen California were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the California fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (30.6% of its recorded defects), followed by tyres.

Is the Volkswagen California reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 81.5% it performs above the national average at a median age of 9 years and 56,315 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.