2018 · 6 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2018 Volkswagen Beetle MOT pass rate and common faults

876 MOT tests in 2024. 78.2% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time78.2%
Failed or needed repairs21.8%
Typical mileage at test33,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 876 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.8%
  2. Rear fog lamp: not working3.1%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.6%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.1%
    16 marked dangerous
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.0%
    11 marked dangerous
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.9%
    13 marked dangerous
  9. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.6%
    8 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension11.0%
  2. Lights & electrics6.1%
  3. Tyres5.8%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.5%
  5. Brakes3.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks0.9%
  7. Number plates & VIN0.5%
  8. Steering0.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure21.9%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm8.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.8%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened4.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle?

In 2024, 78.2% of 2018 Volkswagen Beetle cars passed their MOT first time, across 876 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; rear fog lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).