Comparison · executive cars

Ford Mondeo vs Volkswagen Passat: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Passat does better at the MOT, with a score of 104 against 100 for the Ford Mondeo, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 377,038 real MOT tests in 2024.

Ford Mondeo

100About average

MOT tests191,040

Volkswagen Passat

104Above average

MOT tests185,998

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Ford Mondeo	Volkswagen Passat
3–5 years	98About average	102About average
6–9 years	105Above average	104Above average
10–14 years	100About average	103Above average
15+ years	97Below average	105Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Ford Mondeo	Volkswagen Passat
2021	81.8%	86.6%
2020	83.3%	88.7%
2019	85.3%	86.9%
2018	84.8%	85.5%
2017	83.4%	81.9%
2016	81.0%	79.9%
2015	77.5%	78.0%
2014	68.6%	71.6%
2013	66.5%	68.0%
2012	64.8%	65.7%
2011	63.2%	64.6%
2010	59.6%	62.5%
2009	57.9%	63.9%
2008	55.3%	61.0%
2007	54.8%	59.3%
2006	55.7%	56.8%
2005	54.6%	57.9%
2004	54.3%	58.5%
2003	55.6%	57.3%
2002	55.7%	57.6%
2001	56.5%	56.5%
2000	56.8%	55.0%
1999	59.1%	57.9%
1998	58.1%	54.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Ford Mondeo	Volkswagen Passat
Lights & electrics	19.3	11.0
Suspension	13.8	14.5
Brakes	13.1	7.7
Tyres	9.9	9.8
Body & chassis	5.1	4.6
Emissions & leaks	5.3	4.1
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	4.6	3.0
Steering	2.6	0.9

Ford Mondeo: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
Position lamp: not working2.5%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.3%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.3%

Volkswagen Passat: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Mondeo or the Volkswagen Passat?

The Volkswagen Passat does better at the MOT, with a score of 104 against 100 for the Ford Mondeo, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat can be compared?

Both were tested for 24 registration years (1998–2021). The Ford Mondeo had the higher pass rate in 6 of them and the Volkswagen Passat in 18.

What fails most on each?

Ford Mondeo: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. Volkswagen Passat: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken.