2012 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate: 72.2% (26,796 tests)
Is the 2012 Tiguan getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.9% +1.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 73.0% +2.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 69.6% -0.7 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 2012 Tiguan
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7,340 | 44.6% |
| 2 | Tyres | 2,860 | 17.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 1,912 | 11.6% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,843 | 11.2% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 726 | 4.4% |
| 6 | Visibility | 648 | 3.9% |
All Tiguan years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 12,350 | 68.0% | +2.9 pts | 127,553 |
| 2009 | 18,054 | 67.7% | +1.4 pts | 120,172 |
| 2010 | 19,730 | 68.0% | +0.7 pts | 115,041 |
| 2011 | 20,155 | 70.0% | +0.8 pts | 109,651 |
| 2012 (this page) | 26,796 | 72.2% | +1.0 pts | 100,845 |
| 2013 | 36,494 | 76.3% | +3.0 pts | 89,743 |
| 2014 | 45,579 | 77.9% | +2.1 pts | 80,861 |
| 2015 | 59,196 | 81.0% | +2.3 pts | 73,575 |
| 2016 | 55,132 | 86.2% | +4.8 pts | 66,650 |
| 2017 | 78,138 | 88.7% | +4.7 pts | 59,942 |
| 2018 | 86,788 | 88.8% | +2.4 pts | 49,868 |
| 2019 | 46,040 | 89.8% | +1.4 pts | 40,206 |
| 2020 | 27,471 | 90.0% | +0.1 pts | 32,406 |
| 2021 | 10,895 | 88.6% | -1.8 pts | 32,883 |
| 2022 | 2,821 | 88.4% | -2.8 pts | 28,185 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 72.2% of their MOT tests (26,796 tests, 2023–2025), +1.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 100,845 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Tiguan?
The median tested example shows 100,845 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.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 Tiguan?
In this cohort petrols pass 77.6% of tests against 72.0% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
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.