2019 Volkswagen California MOT pass rate: 88.7% (3,294 tests)
Is the 2019 California getting worse?
Pass rate of 2019-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91.1% +1.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 88.7% +0.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 86.4% -0.6 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2019 California
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 230 | 40.0% |
| 2 | Suspension | 124 | 21.6% |
| 3 | Brakes | 103 | 17.9% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 31 | 5.4% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 26 | 4.5% |
| 6 | Visibility | 18 | 3.1% |
All California years compared
| 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 (this page) | 3,294 | 88.7% | +0.4 pts | 29,504 |
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- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2019 Volkswagen California reliable?
2019-registered examples passed 88.7% of their MOT tests (3,294 tests, 2023–2025), +0.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 7 years old with a median 29,504 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2019 California?
The median tested example shows 29,504 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.