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Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI car check

Is the Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI reliable? We analysed 2,749 real MOT tests across 892 vehicles to find out.

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

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,749 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.3%
Typical Mileage
55,554mi
Annual Mileage
12,315mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volkswagen Passat SE Nav 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 SE Nav TDI.

Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

89.4%
2022
88.3%
2021
87.8%
2020
88.4%
2019

Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 72
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 14
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 9
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 9

Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
7,537 mi/yr
Typical
12,315 mi/yr
Average
14,911 mi/yr
Heavy usage
19,336 mi/yr

Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 132 89.4% 37,617 58,215 78,502
2021 797 88.3% 38,460 57,565 78,448
2020 1,468 87.8% 35,924 55,372 78,634
2019 233 88.4% 31,035 45,172 65,277

How Long Does a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI Last?

Based on 892 Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.0 years
Median
4.0 years

Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI Mileage Distribution

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

Median
55,554 mi
75th Percentile
78,430 mi
95th Percentile
123,090 mi
Max Recorded
208,866 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI

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

Best year
2022

89.4% MOT pass rate from 132 tests

Year to avoid
2020

87.8% MOT pass rate from 1,468 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 132 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.8% — 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 SE Nav 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 SE Nav TDI THIS CAR 88.3% 2,749 55,554 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
Ducati Hypermotard 950 91.3% 958 4,692 mi — yrs

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

Found a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav 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 SE Nav TDI?

The Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.3% across 2,749 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 SE Nav TDI 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 SE Nav TDI owner drives around 12,315 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 SE Nav TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI reliable?
Based on 2,749 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI has a 88.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI does around 12,315 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav 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.
What is the best year to buy a Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat SE Nav TDI is 2022 with a 89.4% pass rate across 132 tests.