Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate: 75.3% (166,958 tests, 2025)

The Volkswagen Passat passed 75.3% of its 166,958 MOT tests in 2025 — 2.2 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 12 years old with 122,735 miles on the clock.
75.3%Pass rate (2025)
166,958MOT tests analysed
122,735 miMedian mileage at test
12 yrsMedian age at test

How the Passat compares

Volkswagen Passat

75.3%

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 Passat

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

#SystemDefects recordedShare
1Suspension33,40833.3%
2Tyres19,75919.7%
3Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment14,86214.8%
4Brakes12,92312.9%
5Body, chassis, structure7,6307.6%
6Noise, emissions and leaks5,8255.8%

Pre-MOT checklist for Passat 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
  • Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
  • Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
  • Look underneath for corrosion around sills and subframes, especially on older cars
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.

Passat pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2001, 2021. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2004, 2015. Full ranking and method: Volkswagen Passat years to avoid.

Registration yearTestsPass rateVs same-ageMedian mileage
2001 3,061 65.2% -1.4 pts 153,624
2002 5,217 65.7% +0.1 pts 155,910
2003 8,198 65.3% +0.3 pts 159,218
2004 9,672 67.4% +3.1 pts 157,911
2005 11,934 66.9% +2.4 pts 153,066
2006 16,414 64.0% -0.4 pts 150,677
2007 24,303 66.0% +0.9 pts 148,952
2008 28,112 67.5% +2.4 pts 145,290
2009 33,638 69.2% +2.7 pts 138,466
2010 33,571 68.5% +1.2 pts 138,302
2011 48,853 70.4% +1.2 pts 139,160
2012 41,771 71.2% -0.0 pts 130,185
2013 36,522 73.2% -0.1 pts 118,979
2014 44,715 75.3% -0.6 pts 108,661
2015 46,857 82.1% +3.3 pts 105,695
2016 45,400 83.6% +2.3 pts 95,370
2017 41,888 85.1% +1.1 pts 83,038
2018 32,500 87.3% +1.0 pts 70,638
2019 18,783 87.8% -0.7 pts 56,757
2020 5,192 89.8% -0.1 pts 45,272
2021 2,866 88.0% -2.4 pts 50,116

Check a specific Passat 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 Caddy73.4% pass rate · 139,412 tests Up84.1% pass rate · 121,528 tests Touran73.2% pass rate · 67,815 tests T-Roc92.0% pass rate · 55,178 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Volkswagen Passat?

In 2025, 75.3% of 166,958 first MOT tests on the Volkswagen Passat were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Passat fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (33.3% of its recorded defects), followed by tyres.

Is the Volkswagen Passat reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 75.3% it performs below the national average at a median age of 12 years and 122,735 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.