2001 · 23 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2001 Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate and common faults

977 MOT tests in 2024. 56.5% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time56.5%
Failed or needed repairs43.5%
Typical mileage at test153,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 977 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt8.1%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.9%
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.4%
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.1%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.0%
  7. Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.7%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.7%
  9. Stop lamp: not working2.5%
  10. Position lamp: not working2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics28.1%
  2. Suspension21.4%
  3. Brakes20.8%
  4. Body & chassis13.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.8%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.9%
  7. Steering6.8%
  8. Tyres5.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine20.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened18.9%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.8%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.2%
  5. Registration plates: inscription illegible11.9%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2001 Volkswagen Passat?

In 2024, 56.5% of 2001 Volkswagen Passat cars passed their MOT first time, across 977 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Volkswagen Passat reliable at MOT time?

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