2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate and common faults

16,125 MOT tests in 2024. 64.6% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time64.6%
Failed or needed repairs35.4%
Typical mileage at test139,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 16,125 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.6%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.8%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.9%
    1,006 marked dangerous
  4. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.3%
    782 marked dangerous
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
    471 marked dangerous
  7. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened2.2%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
  9. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault1.9%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension23.7%
  2. Lights & electrics13.7%
  3. Tyres11.0%
  4. Brakes8.4%
  5. Body & chassis3.6%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.3%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm24.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn20.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.6%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.7%
  5. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened6.8%

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: 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 2011 Volkswagen Passat?

In 2024, 64.6% of 2011 Volkswagen Passat cars passed their MOT first time, across 16,125 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 Volkswagen Passat reliable at MOT time?

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