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Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI car check

Is the Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI reliable? We analysed 2,537 real MOT tests across 1,166 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,537 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.1%
Typical Mileage
29,416mi
Annual Mileage
7,828mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

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

Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

90.9%
2022
91.4%
2021

Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 59
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 18
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 13
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 8
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 4

Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,467 mi/yr
Typical
7,828 mi/yr
Average
8,773 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,824 mi/yr

Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 1,529 90.9% 22,305 29,139 38,621
2021 896 91.4% 21,939 29,439 37,857

How Long Does a Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI Last?

Based on 1,166 Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.1 years
Median
3.0 years

Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI Mileage Distribution

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

Median
29,416 mi
75th Percentile
38,551 mi
95th Percentile
58,282 mi
Max Recorded
143,097 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI

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

Best year
2021

91.4% MOT pass rate from 896 tests

Year to avoid
2022

90.9% MOT pass rate from 1,529 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.4% across 896 tests. The 2022 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.9% — 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 Active TSI Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI THIS CAR 91.1% 2,537 29,416 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
Subaru Justy GX AWD 66.2% 1,873 63,956 mi 30 yrs

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

Found a Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI 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 Tiguan Active TSI?

The Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.1% across 2,537 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 Tiguan Active TSI 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 Active TSI owner drives around 7,828 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 Tiguan Active TSI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI reliable?
Based on 2,537 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI has a 91.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI does around 7,828 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI?
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 Tiguan Active TSI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI is 2021 with a 91.4% pass rate across 896 tests.