Volkswagen Passat Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Volkswagen Passat passes its MOT first time on 69.0% of tests, 5.2 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (63.7%). That puts it ahead of 72% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2018 Passat does best (beats 83% of cars) and the 2006 worst (beats 60%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Diesel does best (beats 75%) and the 2.0 Petrol worst (beats 60%).

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

Watch these weak spots

Suspension arm bushes1.6×as often as a typical car

Airbag warning light1.9×as often as a typical car

Ball joint dust covers1.6×as often as a typical car

Indicator side repeaters1.7×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.

Volkswagen PassatTypical 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.

Beats 58%

Beats 43%

Beats 44%

Beats 45%

Beats 56%

Beats 60%

Beats 65%

Beats 67%

Beats 64%

Beats 60%

Beats 68%

Beats 71%

Beats 72%

Beats 70%

Beats 76%

Beats 75%

Beats 74%

Beats 73%

Beats 83%

Beats 83%

Beats 82%

Beats 83%

Beats 86%

Beats 90%

Beats 86%

Beats 88%

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	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	2004–2022	1,219,839	70.8%	Beats 75%	B
1.9 Diesel	1997–2010	284,374	56.1%	Beats 64%	B
1.6 Diesel	2009–2020	218,397	73.8%	Beats 70%	B
2.0 Petrol	2001–2018	39,400	56.9%	Beats 60%	B
1.4 Hybrid	2016–2022	30,419	84.7%	Beats 85%	A
1.8 Petrol	1998–2018	28,808	57.5%	Beats 54%	C
1.5 Petrol	2018–2022	21,276	88.2%	Beats 87%	A
1.4 Petrol	2011–2018	12,515	84.9%	Beats 84%	A
3.6 Petrol	2008–2009	2,240	79.4%	Beats 99%	A
1.6 Petrol	2006–2006	1,396	52.7%	Beats 43%	C

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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Tyres: 8.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% 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).

Suspension

12.0% vs 12.8%

Lights & electrics

10.2% vs 16.6%

Tyres

8.8% vs 7.9%

Brakes

6.0% vs 9.8%

Body & structure

4.6% vs 4.9%

Emissions & leaks

4.0% vs 4.5%

Visibility

3.5% vs 5.8%

Seat belts & airbags

1.8% vs 1.6%

Steering

1.0% vs 2.8%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.6%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Suspension arm bushes 1.6× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Indicator side repeaters 1.7× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
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.
Coil springs
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Volkswagen PassatTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Tyre damage & cracking	4.8%	3.9%	1.2×
Tyre tread depth	3.8%	3.6%	1.0×
Headlight aim	3.7%	4.4%	0.8×
Coil springs	3.3%	3.0%	1.1×
Suspension arm bushes	2.7%	1.7%	1.6×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	2.6%	1.9%	1.3×
Brake pads	2.1%	2.6%	0.8×
Headlight bulbs & units	2.1%	3.0%	0.7×
Shock absorbers	1.8%	1.5%	1.2×
Sidelights	1.7%	4.4%	0.4×

Specific defects found

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

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	45.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	37.6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	36.9
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	33.2
A tyre cords visible or damaged	26.8
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	26.4
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction	23.9
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	23.9

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.

2022 Volkswagen Passat3 engines88.2% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Hybrid	1,792	85.5%	Beats 77%	B
1.5 Petrol	1,513	90.8%	Beats 93%	A
2.0 Diesel	1,068	89.1%	Beats 96%	A

2021 Volkswagen Passat3 engines87.2% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	4,595	87.6%	Beats 92%	A
1.4 Hybrid	3,207	86.2%	Beats 85%	A
1.5 Petrol	2,520	87.7%	Beats 75%	B

2020 Volkswagen Passat4 engines87.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	11,275	88.0%	Beats 93%	A
1.5 Petrol	4,291	88.7%	Beats 87%	A
1.4 Hybrid	3,800	87.3%	Beats 90%	A
1.6 Diesel	2,917	86.6%	Beats 83%	A

2019 Volkswagen Passat4 engines86.0% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	22,100	84.9%	Beats 84%	A
1.5 Petrol	11,099	88.1%	Beats 90%	A
1.6 Diesel	1,682	86.3%	Beats 89%	A
1.4 Hybrid	1,351	86.8%	Beats 92%	A

2018 Volkswagen Passat7 engines84.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	33,035	84.6%	Beats 87%	A
1.6 Diesel	11,343	80.9%	Beats 68%	B
1.4 Hybrid	9,559	83.9%	Beats 83%	A
1.4 Petrol	7,584	86.2%	Beats 82%	A
1.5 Petrol	1,853	85.8%	Beats 81%	A
2.0 Petrol	1,092	84.5%	Beats 59%	C
1.8 Petrol	1,005	89.5%	Beats 95%	A

2017 Volkswagen Passat4 engines82.7% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	67,538	83.0%	Beats 84%	A
1.6 Diesel	17,146	80.7%	Beats 73%	B
1.4 Hybrid	9,415	83.4%	Beats 84%	A
1.4 Petrol	2,830	85.7%	Beats 79%	B

2016 Volkswagen Passat3 engines81.2% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	96,569	81.6%	Beats 84%	A
1.6 Diesel	25,717	79.4%	Beats 74%	B
1.4 Hybrid	1,295	84.4%	Beats 92%	A

2015 Volkswagen Passat2 engines79.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	104,615	80.3%	Beats 86%	A
1.6 Diesel	41,595	78.0%	Beats 74%	B

2014 Volkswagen Passat3 engines75.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	107,829	75.8%	Beats 75%	B
1.6 Diesel	28,767	72.6%	Beats 62%	B
1.4 Petrol	1,033	85.5%	Beats 97%	A

2013 Volkswagen Passat2 engines72.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	90,077	72.9%	Beats 77%	B
1.6 Diesel	23,254	70.4%	Beats 66%	B

2012 Volkswagen Passat2 engines69.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	107,616	70.0%	Beats 76%	B
1.6 Diesel	26,153	68.4%	Beats 70%	B

2011 Volkswagen Passat4 engines68.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	129,250	68.4%	Beats 78%	B
1.6 Diesel	29,547	66.4%	Beats 70%	B
1.8 Petrol	1,160	72.7%	Beats 82%	A
1.4 Petrol	1,068	72.8%	Beats 82%	A

2010 Volkswagen Passat4 engines64.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	101,725	64.4%	Beats 70%	B
1.6 Diesel	9,130	63.2%	Beats 67%	B
1.8 Petrol	2,019	67.9%	Beats 72%	B
1.9 Diesel	1,946	64.4%	Beats 72%	B

2009 Volkswagen Passat6 engines63.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	107,878	63.2%	Beats 72%	B
1.9 Diesel	6,103	60.9%	Beats 65%	B
1.8 Petrol	4,362	66.3%	Beats 73%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,837	63.7%	Beats 67%	B
3.6 Petrol	1,174	79.0%	Beats 99%	A
1.6 Diesel	1,146	63.7%	Beats 74%	B

2008 Volkswagen Passat5 engines61.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	88,002	61.4%	Beats 71%	B
1.9 Diesel	23,478	60.9%	Beats 69%	B
1.8 Petrol	2,135	61.3%	Beats 63%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,373	64.8%	Beats 78%	B
3.6 Petrol	1,066	79.8%	Beats 99%	A

2007 Volkswagen Passat3 engines59.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	82,797	59.5%	Beats 68%	B
1.9 Diesel	31,354	59.4%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Petrol	3,657	61.0%	Beats 67%	B

2006 Volkswagen Passat4 engines55.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	51,050	55.5%	Beats 61%	B
1.9 Diesel	32,401	55.0%	Beats 59%	C
2.0 Petrol	6,974	54.4%	Beats 51%	C
1.6 Petrol	1,396	52.7%	Beats 43%	C

2005 Volkswagen Passat3 engines56.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	51,019	55.9%	Beats 64%	B
2.0 Diesel	11,692	57.2%	Beats 67%	B
2.0 Petrol	4,986	56.2%	Beats 61%	B

2004 Volkswagen Passat3 engines56.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	47,585	55.9%	Beats 67%	B
2.0 Petrol	4,440	58.1%	Beats 69%	B
2.0 Diesel	1,128	54.2%	Beats 63%	B

2003 Volkswagen Passat3 engines54.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	41,035	54.5%	Beats 64%	B
2.0 Petrol	4,159	57.3%	Beats 67%	B
1.8 Petrol	3,087	56.7%	Beats 65%	B

2002 Volkswagen Passat3 engines53.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	23,399	53.6%	Beats 62%	B
2.0 Petrol	6,310	53.0%	Beats 55%	C
1.8 Petrol	3,037	51.9%	Beats 53%	C

2001 Volkswagen Passat3 engines52.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	12,491	53.5%	Beats 61%	B
2.0 Petrol	4,572	50.0%	Beats 43%	C
1.8 Petrol	2,352	51.6%	Beats 49%	C

2000 Volkswagen Passat2 engines50.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	5,100	52.3%	Beats 55%	C
1.8 Petrol	4,257	47.6%	Beats 32%	D

1999 Volkswagen Passat2 engines51.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	4,434	52.3%	Beats 52%	C
1.8 Petrol	3,049	49.1%	Beats 32%	D

1998 Volkswagen Passat2 engines53.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	3,008	54.5%	Beats 52%	C
1.8 Petrol	2,345	51.1%	Beats 30%	D

1997 Volkswagen Passat1 engine57.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	1,021	57.5%	Beats 58%	C

FAQ

What is the Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate?

69.0% of MOT tests on the Volkswagen Passat were passed first time, based on 1,858,664 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1997–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 63.7% of the time.

Is the Volkswagen Passat 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 72% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volkswagen Passat year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2018 Passat does best for its age and mileage: it beats 83% of cars on UK roads. The 2006 does worst: it beats 60%.

Which Volkswagen Passat engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Diesel does best: it beats 75% of cars on UK roads. The 2.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 60%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, suspension arm bushes comes up 1.6× 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.

Volkswagen Passat reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ