Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a car check
Is the Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a reliable? We analysed 1,415 real MOT tests across 349 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Passat SE 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 SE TDI S-a.
Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Passat SE 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 SE TDI S-a year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 937 | 87.7% | 30,836 | 48,149 | 75,098 |
| 2019 | 416 | 87.0% | 33,886 | 47,824 | 71,093 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a Last?
Based on 349 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a 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 SE TDI S-a
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.7% MOT pass rate from 937 tests
87.0% MOT pass rate from 416 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.7% across 937 tests. The 2019 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.0% — 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 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 SE TDI S-a THIS CAR | 87.7% | 1,415 | 48,176 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 Gsf 600S K2 | 85.7% | 924 | 16,733 mi | 25 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a 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 Passat SE TDI S-aShould you buy a used Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a?
The Volkswagen Passat SE TDI S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% across 1,415 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 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 SE TDI S-a owner drives around 11,500 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.