CarVerify

Volkswagen Pick Up Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Pick Up car check

Is the Volkswagen Pick Up reliable? We analysed 1,573 real MOT tests across 153 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Volkswagen Pick Up? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,573 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.0%
Typical Mileage
73,326mi
Annual Mileage
1,199mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
44yrs

The Volkswagen Pick Up is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Pick Up.

Volkswagen Pick Up Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Pick Up MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen Pick Up to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76%
2008
68.5%
2007
73.2%
2005
77%
2004
74%
2002
59.5%
1997
67.9%
1992
66.5%
1990
70.4%
1987
58%
1982

Volkswagen Pick Up Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Volkswagen Pick Up fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 94
Brake pipe excessively corroded 81
Stop lamp not working 61
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 59
position lamp(s) not working 56
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 45
Headlamp aim too low 42
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 37
Horn not working 34
parking brake recording little or no effort 34

Volkswagen Pick Up Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
321 mi/yr
Typical
1,199 mi/yr
Average
2,677 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,605 mi/yr

Volkswagen Pick Up MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Pick Up year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 75 76.0% 26,528 56,088 73,881
2007 54 68.5% 15,595 37,507 61,062
2005 127 73.2% 17,586 43,058 81,908
2004 61 77.0% 27,222 36,028 73,267
2002 50 74.0% 8,105 57,538 93,884
1997 163 59.5% 70,303 92,194 119,532
1992 112 67.9% 109,892 143,995 174,653
1990 179 66.5% 142,939 162,036 203,347
1987 71 70.4% 114,298 163,514 194,979
1982 69 58.0% 10,102 30,166 49,500

How Long Does a Volkswagen Pick Up Last?

Based on 153 Volkswagen Pick Up vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.3 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
44 years

Volkswagen Pick Up Mileage Distribution

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

Median
73,326 mi
75th Percentile
134,481 mi
95th Percentile
215,337 mi
Max Recorded
911,027 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Pick Up

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

Best year
2004

77.0% MOT pass rate from 61 tests

Year to avoid
1982

58.0% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Pick Up is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.0% across 61 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Pick Up Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Pick Up THIS CAR 69.0% 1,573 73,326 mi 44 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
Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A 92.4% 641 41,346 mi — yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Pick Up trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Volkswagen Pick Up 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 Pick Up

Should you buy a used Volkswagen Pick Up?

The Volkswagen Pick Up has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.0% across 1,573 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Pick Up are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (94 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (81), and stop lamp not working (61). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Volkswagen Pick Up owner drives around 1,199 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.

In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Pick Up models stay on UK roads for around 44 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

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 Pick Up — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Pick Up reliable?
Based on 1,573 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Pick Up has a 69.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Pick Up?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Pick Up do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Pick Up does around 1,199 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Pick Up last?
Most Volkswagen Pick Up models stay on UK roads for around 44 years based on our analysis of 153 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Pick Up?
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 Pick Up?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Pick Up is 2004 with a 77.0% pass rate across 61 tests.