2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate and common faults

9,122 MOT tests in 2024. 61.0% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

107Above average
Passed first time61.0%
Failed or needed repairs39.0%
Typical mileage at test146,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 9,122 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.4%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.0%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.4%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.8%
    557 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.7%
    504 marked dangerous
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.8%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
    277 marked dangerous
  10. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension20.8%
  2. Body & chassis13.7%
  3. Lights & electrics12.9%
  4. Tyres11.4%
  5. Brakes11.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks9.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.6%
  8. Steering1.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn22.0%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.4%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened11.7%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened10.2%

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: 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 2008 Volkswagen Passat?

In 2024, 61.0% of 2008 Volkswagen Passat cars passed their MOT first time, across 9,122 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; coil spring: fractured or broken; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2008 Volkswagen Passat reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 107, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).