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Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a car check

Is the Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a reliable? We analysed 3,533 real MOT tests across 1,821 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,533 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.5%
Typical Mileage
22,814mi
Annual Mileage
5,649mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a.

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.9%
2023
91%
2022
92.4%
2021
91.4%
2020

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 19
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 14
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 14
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,615 mi/yr
Typical
5,649 mi/yr
Average
6,474 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,520 mi/yr

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 244 88.9% 12,640 18,420 29,220
2022 1,087 91.0% 13,508 19,470 28,913
2021 1,123 92.4% 16,616 24,181 33,500
2020 991 91.4% 17,898 25,645 35,174

How Long Does a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Last?

Based on 1,821 Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.0 years
Median
3.0 years

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
22,814 mi
75th Percentile
32,769 mi
95th Percentile
51,221 mi
Max Recorded
396,851 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2021

92.4% MOT pass rate from 1,123 tests

Year to avoid
2023

88.9% MOT pass rate from 244 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.4% across 1,123 tests. The 2023 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a THIS CAR 91.5% 3,533 22,814 mi — yrs
Volkswagen Golf 74.9% 22,270,993 83,305 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Polo 72.9% 14,598,296 60,351 mi 35 yrs
Volkswagen Passat 73.5% 6,960,690 105,632 mi 32 yrs
Suzuki Swift Gl 3DR 77% 1,544 76,591 mi — yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a?

The Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.5% across 3,533 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a owner drives around 5,649 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a reliable?
Based on 3,533 MOT tests, the Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a has a 91.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a do per year?
The typical Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a does around 5,649 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen California Ocean TDI S-a is 2021 with a 92.4% pass rate across 1,123 tests.