2020 · 4 years old at test · Electric mostly

2020 Volkswagen ID3 Life MOT pass rate and common faults

1,259 MOT tests in 2024. 91.4% passed first time, compared with 86.9% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time91.4%
Failed or needed repairs8.6%
Typical mileage at test28,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,259 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.9%
  2. Headlamp aim: too high1.3%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.2%
    21 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.9%
    14 marked dangerous
  5. Rear fog lamp: not working0.8%
  6. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn0.6%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.4%
    7 marked dangerous
  8. Service brake performance: excessively fluctuating0.4%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively0.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres4.7%
  2. Lights & electrics2.6%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.7%
  4. Suspension1.0%
  5. Brakes0.5%
  6. Seat belts & airbags0.2%
  7. Number plates & VIN0.1%
  8. Wheels0.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.9%
  2. Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm3.1%
  3. Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.9%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.6%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All ID3 Life years2021 ID3 Life →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2020 Volkswagen ID3 Life?

In 2024, 91.4% of 2020 Volkswagen ID3 Life cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,259 tests. The average for all 4-year-old cars was 86.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2020 Volkswagen ID3 Life?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; headlamp aim: too high; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2020 Volkswagen ID3 Life reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).