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Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI car check

Is the Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI reliable? We analysed 753 real MOT tests across 204 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 753 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.5%
Typical Mileage
34,800mi
Annual Mileage
7,417mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI.

Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Number Plates

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

Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.2%
2020
90.9%
2019

Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 18
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2
Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 2
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2

Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,190 mi/yr
Typical
7,417 mi/yr
Average
8,795 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,023 mi/yr

Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 399 87.2% 24,900 35,068 50,056
2019 286 90.9% 23,658 34,671 48,200

How Long Does a Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Last?

Based on 204 Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.8 years
Median
5.0 years

Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
34,800 mi
75th Percentile
49,491 mi
95th Percentile
74,385 mi
Max Recorded
121,696 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI

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

Best year
2019

90.9% MOT pass rate from 286 tests

Year to avoid
2020

87.2% MOT pass rate from 399 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.9% across 286 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI THIS CAR 89.5% 753 34,800 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
Vauxhall Zafira Design 16V 67.1% 353 119,587 mi — yrs

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

Found a Volkswagen T-cross SE 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 T-cross SE TDI?

The Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.5% across 753 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 T-cross SE 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 T-cross SE TDI owner drives around 7,417 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 T-cross SE TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI reliable?
Based on 753 MOT tests, the Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI has a 89.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI do per year?
The typical Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI does around 7,417 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen T-cross SE 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 T-cross SE TDI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen T-cross SE TDI is 2019 with a 90.9% pass rate across 286 tests.