Volkswagen Passat MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volkswagen Passat. Check any Passat by registration number below.
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80.2%
Avg Pass Rate
-5.5%
vs Volkswagen Avg
38
Year Ranges
Good
Reliability
Volkswagen Passat — MOT Reliability Overview
The Volkswagen Passat has an average MOT pass rate of 80.2%, which is 5.5 percentage points below the Volkswagen brand average of 85.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Passat is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Passat fails its MOT are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn. If you are preparing your Passat for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Typical mileage for the Passat is around 48,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used Passat, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.
Before buying a used Volkswagen Passat, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Volkswagen Passat performs at MOT across different model years.
2023
Based on 157 vehicles
0.9%
1.8%
2022
Based on 872 vehicles
2.8%
4.7%
144k mi
2021
Based on 2,596 vehicles
3.3%
12.1%
75k mi
2020
Based on 5,110 vehicles
2.2%
8.5%
63k mi
98k mi
2019
Based on 15,960 vehicles
4.0%
11.2%
69k mi
102k mi
2018
Based on 27,070 vehicles
4.2%
11.7%
106k mi
2017
Based on 34,845 vehicles
4.4%
14.3%
122k mi
2016
Based on 37,461 vehicles
4.6%
15.8%
2015
Based on 38,537 vehicles
5.3%
16.8%
190k mi
2014
Based on 36,997 vehicles
6.5%
23.5%
189k mi
2013
Based on 30,335 vehicles
7.7%
25.8%
192k mi
2012
Based on 34,592 vehicles
8.3%
27.6%
210k mi
2011
Based on 41,339 vehicles
7.6%
27.9%
2010
Based on 29,039 vehicles
8.8%
30.1%
2009
Based on 29,775 vehicles
8.1%
27.9%
2008
Based on 25,285 vehicles
8.0%
29.0%
2007
Based on 22,311 vehicles
8.8%
29.8%
2006
Based on 15,142 vehicles
8.6%
30.7%
2005
Based on 10,984 vehicles
7.1%
28.0%
2004
Based on 8,948 vehicles
6.2%
28.3%
2003
Based on 39,395 vehicles
7.1%
28.7%
169k mi
222k mi
2002
Based on 42,131 vehicles
6.5%
30.2%
218k mi
2001
Based on 45,913 vehicles
5.7%
28.3%
211k mi
2000
Based on 27,907 vehicles
7.3%
32.6%
208k mi
1999
Based on 32,485 vehicles
3.8%
26.9%
207k mi
1998
Based on 68,000 vehicles
0.0%
0.1%
28k mi
48k mi
95k mi
1997
Based on 20,431 vehicles
2.7%
16.4%
1996
Based on 9,588 vehicles
0.8%
11.8%
1995
Based on 7,551 vehicles
6.0%
28.9%
1994
Based on 4,612 vehicles
4.0%
14.7%
1993
Based on 3,027 vehicles
1.3%
17.5%
1992
Based on 2,035 vehicles
7.7%
27.7%
1991
Based on 1,824 vehicles
4.5%
11.4%
1990
Based on 1,352 vehicles
4.3%
17.4%
1989
Based on 34 vehicles
0.0%
27.3%
1988
Based on 30 vehicles
9.1%
27.3%
1987
Based on 32 vehicles
0.0%
0
Based on 248,006 vehicles
121k mi
Top MOT Failures — Volkswagen Passat
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Passat fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Where Failures Occur
The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.
Rear Nearside
Front Offside
Typical Mileage — Volkswagen Passat
Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 1998 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used Passat.
At 3 Years
28,000
miles
At 5 Years
48,000
miles
At 10 Years
95,000
miles
Other Volkswagen Models
Compare MOT reliability across Volkswagen models.
Volkswagen Passat — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Volkswagen Passat MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Passat?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Passat?
Is the Volkswagen Passat reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Volkswagen Passat?
What mileage should I expect on a Volkswagen Passat?
Check Your Volkswagen Passat's MOT History
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