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Volkswagen ID.4 reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 21,935 MOT tests of cars first registered 2021–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
87.6%pass first time
+2.6 ptsvs typical car
Beats 76%of cars
21,935MOT tests

Verdict

The Volkswagen ID.4 passes its MOT first time on 87.6% of tests, 2.6 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (85.0%). That puts it ahead of 76% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2021 ID.4 does best (beats 81% of cars) and the 2023 worst (beats 69%).

The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.

Better than average on lights & electrics, visibility, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Tyres1.3×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking1.5×as often as a typical car
Shock absorbers2.3×as often as a typical car
Sidelights1.4×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

80%85%90%95%34587%89%87%
Volkswagen ID.4Typical car, same age & mileage

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.

2021
Beats 81%
2022
Beats 69%
2023
Beats 69%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2021–202321,93587.6%Beats 76%B

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.

Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Suspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 1.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 7.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 0.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 1.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.9 ptsTyres: 7.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.9 ptsBrakes: 0.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.0 ptsSuspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.2 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/aSuspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 0.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 7.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 1.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Lights: 1.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.9 ptsTyres: 7.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.9 ptsBrakes: 0.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.0 ptsSuspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.2 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/a
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 7.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
7.8% vs 5.9%
Lights & electrics
1.9% vs 3.8%
Visibility
1.8% vs 3.5%
Suspension
1.4% vs 1.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.4%
Brakes
0.3% vs 2.4%
Body & structure
0.3% vs 0.5%
Wheels
0.1% vs 0.2%
Steering
0.0% vs 0.2%
Emissions & leaks
0.0% vs 0.7%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking 1.5× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Shock absorbers 2.3× typical
    Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
  • Sidelights 1.4× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

75%80%85%90%95%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k91%89%88%88%87%86%85%
Volkswagen ID.4Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking5.9%4.1%1.5×
Tyre tread depth2.0%1.8%1.1×
Headlight aim1.2%1.8%0.7×
Shock absorbers0.9%0.4%2.3×
Windscreen wipers0.9%2.2%0.4×
Windscreen washers0.8%1.1%0.7×
Sidelights0.4%0.3%1.4×
Anti-roll bar links0.3%0.1%3.8×
Airbag warning light0.2%0.1%1.8×
Size/type0.2%0.1%3.4×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A tyre cords visible or damaged32.0
A tyre seriously damaged30.5
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements19.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements11.6
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage8.7
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.6
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen8.3
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn4.3
Check another car

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.

2023 Volkswagen ID.41 engine86.9% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric1,73586.9%Beats 69%B
2022 Volkswagen ID.41 engine87.8% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric9,09687.8%Beats 69%B
2021 Volkswagen ID.41 engine87.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric11,10487.5%Beats 81%A

FAQ

What is the Volkswagen ID.4 MOT pass rate?

87.6% of MOT tests on the Volkswagen ID.4 were passed first time, based on 21,935 tests between 2023 and 2026 of cars first registered 2021–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 85.0% of the time.

Is the Volkswagen ID.4 reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 76% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volkswagen ID.4 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2021 ID.4 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 81% of cars on UK roads. The 2023 does worst: it beats 69%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen ID.4?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 1.5× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.