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Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a car check

Is the Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a reliable? We analysed 3,731 real MOT tests across 1,358 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,731 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.6%
Typical Mileage
50,855mi
Annual Mileage
11,718mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volkswagen Passat R-line 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 Passat R-line TDI S-a.

Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.7%
2023
92.2%
2022
91.1%
2021
89.6%
2020
89.9%
2019

Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Passat R-line 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 62
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 16
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 12
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 11
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 7

Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Passat R-line 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
7,466 mi/yr
Typical
11,718 mi/yr
Average
14,627 mi/yr
Heavy usage
17,988 mi/yr

Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 97 88.7% 23,280 33,832 49,486
2022 192 92.2% 26,555 41,545 60,639
2021 1,681 91.1% 39,617 50,972 63,766
2020 1,377 89.6% 36,703 50,291 68,925
2019 158 89.9% 41,990 61,116 90,622

How Long Does a Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a Last?

Based on 1,358 Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.7 years
Median
4.0 years

Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Passat R-line 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
50,855 mi
75th Percentile
66,879 mi
95th Percentile
106,008 mi
Max Recorded
266,237 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a

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

Best year
2022

92.2% MOT pass rate from 192 tests

Year to avoid
2023

88.7% MOT pass rate from 97 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.2% across 192 tests. The 2023 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.7% — 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 R-line 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 Passat R-line TDI S-a THIS CAR 90.6% 3,731 50,855 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
Ktm 1290 Superduke R 18 91.4% 2,120 8,213 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a?

The Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.6% across 3,731 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 Passat R-line 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 Passat R-line TDI S-a owner drives around 11,718 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 Passat R-line TDI S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a reliable?
Based on 3,731 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a has a 90.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a does around 11,718 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Passat R-line 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 Passat R-line TDI S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat R-line TDI S-a is 2022 with a 92.2% pass rate across 192 tests.