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Volkswagen Passat S TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Passat S TDI car check

Is the Volkswagen Passat S TDI reliable? We analysed 5,409 real MOT tests across 1,879 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Volkswagen Passat S TDI? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,409 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
75.4%
Typical Mileage
169,818mi
Annual Mileage
7,211mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

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

Volkswagen Passat S TDI Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Passat S TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,554 mi/yr
Typical
7,211 mi/yr
Average
8,334 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,708 mi/yr

Volkswagen Passat S TDI Mileage Distribution

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

Median
169,818 mi
75th Percentile
203,484 mi
95th Percentile
260,766 mi
Max Recorded
2,444,493 mi

How Does the Volkswagen Passat S TDI Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Passat S TDI THIS CAR 75.4% 5,409 169,818 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
Renault Trafic LL30 B-ness+ Energy DCI 79.7% 5,315 52,768 mi — yrs

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

Found a Volkswagen Passat S TDI 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.

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Passat S TDI?

The Volkswagen Passat S TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.4% across 5,409 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

A typical Volkswagen Passat S TDI owner drives around 7,211 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 S TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Passat S TDI reliable?
Based on 5,409 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Passat S TDI has a 75.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Passat S TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Passat S TDI do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Passat S TDI does around 7,211 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Passat S TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Passat S TDI?
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.