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Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a car check

Is the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a reliable? We analysed 714 real MOT tests across 206 vehicles to find out.

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

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Data last updated: · Based on 714 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.5%
Typical Mileage
40,420mi
Annual Mileage
8,778mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI 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 Sel TSI S-a.

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

84.4%
2021
91.9%
2020
91.9%
2019

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 14
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI 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
5,530 mi/yr
Typical
8,778 mi/yr
Average
10,279 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,689 mi/yr

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 334 84.4% 34,086 48,619 68,231
2020 248 91.9% 21,242 32,231 47,206
2019 111 91.9% 18,107 33,440 49,258

How Long Does a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a Last?

Based on 206 Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.3 years
Median
4.0 years

Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a Mileage Distribution

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

Median
40,420 mi
75th Percentile
58,899 mi
95th Percentile
90,287 mi
Max Recorded
172,068 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a

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

Best year
2019

91.9% MOT pass rate from 111 tests

Year to avoid
2021

84.4% MOT pass rate from 334 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.9% across 111 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.4% — 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 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 Sel TSI S-a THIS CAR 88.5% 714 40,420 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
Fiat 500 Rockstar S-a 90% 492 15,835 mi — yrs

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

Found a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI 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.

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a?

The Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.5% across 714 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 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 Sel TSI S-a owner drives around 8,778 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 S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a reliable?
Based on 714 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a has a 88.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a does around 8,778 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI 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 Sel TSI S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Passat Sel TSI S-a is 2019 with a 91.9% pass rate across 111 tests.