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Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo car check

Is the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo reliable? We analysed 1,974 real MOT tests across 624 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,974 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.1%
Typical Mileage
38,606mi
Annual Mileage
8,642mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

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

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

90.8%
2022
84.6%
2021
91.8%
2020
94%
2019

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 24
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 9
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 5

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,585 mi/yr
Typical
8,642 mi/yr
Average
9,530 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,219 mi/yr

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 131 90.8% 22,850 30,344 47,317
2021 318 84.6% 30,040 40,065 54,279
2020 1,046 91.8% 28,083 40,104 53,700
2019 419 94.0% 23,484 33,199 49,481

How Long Does a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo Last?

Based on 624 Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.1 years
Median
4.0 years

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
38,606 mi
75th Percentile
53,389 mi
95th Percentile
80,679 mi
Max Recorded
165,896 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo

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

Best year
2019

94.0% MOT pass rate from 419 tests

Year to avoid
2021

84.6% MOT pass rate from 318 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.0% across 419 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.6% — 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 Sel TSI Evo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo THIS CAR 91.1% 1,974 38,606 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
Royal Enfield Himalayan 20 93.1% 1,415 5,400 mi — yrs

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

Found a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo you like?

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo?

The Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.1% across 1,974 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 Sel TSI Evo 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 Sel TSI Evo owner drives around 8,642 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 Sel TSI Evo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo reliable?
Based on 1,974 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo has a 91.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo does around 8,642 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo?
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 Sel TSI Evo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI Evo is 2019 with a 94.0% pass rate across 419 tests.