Verdict
The Volkswagen Fox passes its MOT first time on 54.9% of tests, 8.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (63.6%). That puts it ahead of 15% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2006 Fox does best (beats 35% of cars) and the 2010 worst (beats 11%).
Of its engines, the 1.4 Petrol does best (beats 19%) and the 1.2 Petrol worst (beats 15%).
Better than average on seat belts & airbags.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 54.9% | Beats 15% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 55.1% | Beats 19% | E |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 4.3× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems. - Windscreen washers 2.4× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Exhaust system 2.9× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath. - Brake lights 1.5× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Headlight bulbs & units 1.6× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides. - Shock absorbers 2.1× typical
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen washers | 6.6% | 2.7% | 2.4× |
| Exhaust emissions (catalyst) | 5.7% | 1.3% | 4.3× |
| Headlight aim | 5.6% | 4.0% | 1.4× |
| Brake lights | 5.1% | 3.4% | 1.5× |
| Windscreen wipers | 5.0% | 2.6% | 1.9× |
| Exhaust system | 4.9% | 1.7% | 2.9× |
| Coil springs | 4.7% | 3.8% | 1.3× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 4.5% | 2.9% | 1.6× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 4.3% | 1.8% | 2.4× |
| Sidelights | 4.2% | 4.1% | 1.0× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 72.2 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 65.8 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 55.5 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 52.5 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 48.8 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 47.5 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 46.8 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 46.3 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2011 Volkswagen Fox1 engine61.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 61.3% | Beats 12% | E |
2010 Volkswagen Fox2 engines56.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 56.2% | Beats 10% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 57.2% | Beats 12% | E |
2009 Volkswagen Fox2 engines54.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 54.0% | Beats 10% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 56.0% | Beats 15% | E |
2008 Volkswagen Fox2 engines52.0% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 51.8% | Beats 15% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 53.3% | Beats 18% | E |
2007 Volkswagen Fox2 engines53.1% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 53.1% | Beats 21% | D |
| 1.4 Petrol | 53.2% | Beats 22% | D |
2006 Volkswagen Fox2 engines55.0% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 54.9% | Beats 34% | D |
| 1.4 Petrol | 55.4% | Beats 37% | D |
FAQ
What is the Volkswagen Fox MOT pass rate?
54.9% of MOT tests on the Volkswagen Fox were passed first time, based on 243,991 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2006–2011. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 63.6% of the time.
Is the Volkswagen Fox reliable?
On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 15% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Volkswagen Fox year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2006 Fox does best for its age and mileage: it beats 35% of cars on UK roads. The 2010 does worst: it beats 11%.
Which Volkswagen Fox engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.4 Petrol does best: it beats 19% of cars on UK roads. The 1.2 Petrol does worst: it beats 15%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Fox?
The most common failure items are windscreen washers, exhaust emissions (catalyst), headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, exhaust emissions (catalyst) comes up 4.3× as often.