Volkswagen Passat Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Passat car check
Is the Volkswagen Passat reliable? We analysed 6,960,690 real MOT tests across 591,281 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Passat? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Passat is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, constant velocity joint gaiter split and constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Passat.
Volkswagen Passat Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Passat. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Passat MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Passat to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Passat Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Passat fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Passat Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Passat owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Passat MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Passat year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 602 | 90.7% | 24,983 | 40,496 | 58,726 |
| 2022 | 1,820 | 88.3% | 31,202 | 45,693 | 63,680 |
| 2021 | 3,857 | 88.0% | 35,300 | 52,553 | 73,115 |
| 2020 | 6,627 | 89.5% | 31,136 | 47,173 | 67,685 |
| 2019 | 32,367 | 87.7% | 34,616 | 52,554 | 76,858 |
| 2018 | 70,479 | 86.4% | 39,965 | 60,064 | 86,327 |
| 2017 | 113,055 | 86.0% | 45,640 | 68,204 | 96,787 |
| 2016 | 140,765 | 84.4% | 50,623 | 75,909 | 106,707 |
| 2015 | 170,864 | 83.2% | 54,509 | 81,300 | 113,616 |
| 2014 | 190,226 | 80.9% | 54,371 | 82,918 | 118,512 |
| 2013 | 181,661 | 80.1% | 60,180 | 90,248 | 125,946 |
| 2012 | 247,919 | 79.1% | 66,416 | 97,978 | 134,707 |
| 2011 | 333,763 | 78.6% | 70,551 | 103,007 | 139,646 |
| 2010 | 274,098 | 76.4% | 67,946 | 101,028 | 138,357 |
| 2009 | 333,365 | 76.0% | 65,940 | 99,117 | 136,040 |
| 2008 | 379,508 | 76.2% | 70,090 | 103,828 | 140,171 |
| 2007 | 481,578 | 75.9% | 72,874 | 106,474 | 141,901 |
| 2006 | 496,125 | 72.8% | 72,716 | 105,452 | 140,334 |
| 2005 | 460,990 | 72.4% | 70,707 | 103,801 | 140,719 |
| 2004 | 436,673 | 72.1% | 72,813 | 107,266 | 145,933 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Passat Last?
Based on 591,281 Volkswagen Passat vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Passat Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Passat MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Passat
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.7% MOT pass rate from 602 tests
60.9% MOT pass rate from 92 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 602 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Passat Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat THIS CAR | 73.5% | 6,960,690 | 105,632 mi | 32 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 Transporter | 73% | 5,346,355 | 105,114 mi | 42 yrs |
| Peugeot Partner | 71.7% | 2,759,357 | 83,595 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Passat sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Passat you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volkswagen PassatShould you buy a used Volkswagen Passat?
The Volkswagen Passat has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.5% across 6,960,690 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Volkswagen Passat are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (256,176 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (196,521), and constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (92,195). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Volkswagen Passat owner drives around 8,659 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.
In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Passat models stay on UK roads for around 32 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
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.