Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Tiguan car check
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan reliable? We analysed 1,842,185 real MOT tests across 207,080 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Tiguan? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Tiguan is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan.
Volkswagen Tiguan Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Tiguan. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Tiguan MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Tiguan to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Tiguan Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Tiguan fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Tiguan Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Tiguan models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volkswagen Tiguan Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Tiguan owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Tiguan MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Tiguan year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 920 | 89.6% | 20,286 | 28,028 | 38,152 |
| 2022 | 4,345 | 88.2% | 22,290 | 29,303 | 38,393 |
| 2021 | 15,619 | 88.2% | 25,434 | 34,200 | 45,274 |
| 2020 | 35,925 | 89.3% | 23,912 | 33,900 | 46,716 |
| 2019 | 78,518 | 89.2% | 25,227 | 37,164 | 52,188 |
| 2018 | 185,982 | 87.8% | 28,462 | 41,841 | 58,422 |
| 2017 | 203,563 | 88.6% | 32,546 | 47,606 | 66,285 |
| 2016 | 160,479 | 87.8% | 34,319 | 50,671 | 71,074 |
| 2015 | 199,610 | 86.0% | 37,292 | 55,006 | 76,445 |
| 2014 | 176,436 | 84.4% | 39,201 | 58,934 | 82,632 |
| 2013 | 159,011 | 83.6% | 43,163 | 64,934 | 90,084 |
| 2012 | 134,448 | 81.6% | 48,013 | 72,761 | 100,694 |
| 2011 | 113,552 | 80.3% | 51,450 | 78,147 | 107,150 |
| 2010 | 124,876 | 78.4% | 52,628 | 80,470 | 110,469 |
| 2009 | 130,591 | 78.0% | 54,461 | 82,752 | 113,221 |
| 2008 | 105,449 | 78.0% | 56,885 | 87,017 | 118,406 |
| 2007 | 356 | 75.3% | 58,812 | 90,175 | 123,520 |
| 2006 | 124 | 74.2% | 69,479 | 96,232 | 124,138 |
| 2005 | 277 | 70.0% | 68,780 | 102,334 | 133,121 |
| 2004 | 336 | 71.4% | 69,102 | 102,365 | 134,332 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Tiguan Last?
Based on 207,080 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Tiguan Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Tiguan 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 Tiguan
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.6% MOT pass rate from 920 tests
70.0% MOT pass rate from 277 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.6% across 920 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Tiguan Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Tiguan THIS CAR | 84.2% | 1,842,185 | 57,658 mi | 18 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 Doblo | 72.7% | 1,002,322 | 70,888 mi | 25 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Tiguan outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Tiguan 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 TiguanShould you buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan?
The Volkswagen Tiguan has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.2% across 1,842,185 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 7,258 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
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 Tiguan 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 Tiguan owner drives around 7,513 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 Tiguan models stay on UK roads for around 18 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.