Volkswagen Trike Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Trike car check
Is the Volkswagen Trike reliable? We analysed 2,868 real MOT tests across 298 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Trike? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Trike is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, wheel bearing has excessive play and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Trike.
Volkswagen Trike Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Trike. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Trike MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Trike to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Trike Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Trike fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Trike Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Trike owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Trike MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Trike year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 74 | 81.1% | 2,136 | 4,730 | 13,470 |
| 2006 | 105 | 87.6% | 1,669 | 5,320 | 8,786 |
| 2005 | 51 | 96.1% | 7,844 | 20,457 | 23,491 |
| 2003 | 122 | 91.0% | 1,959 | 6,548 | 10,171 |
| 2002 | 141 | 84.4% | 3,788 | 8,828 | 16,255 |
| 2001 | 100 | 86.0% | 2,226 | 3,833 | 7,046 |
| 2000 | 59 | 88.1% | 3,308 | 7,514 | 11,545 |
| 1999 | 150 | 82.0% | 3,696 | 7,708 | 23,561 |
| 1998 | 82 | 86.6% | 1,043 | 4,970 | 14,657 |
| 1997 | 112 | 84.8% | 1,367 | 7,785 | 22,457 |
| 1995 | 117 | 77.8% | 4,938 | 16,146 | 27,193 |
| 1994 | 84 | 83.3% | 3,962 | 6,812 | 14,601 |
| 1993 | 138 | 81.9% | 3,385 | 5,856 | 13,228 |
| 1992 | 87 | 81.6% | 1,900 | 4,446 | 32,576 |
| 1990 | 89 | 78.7% | 1,655 | 12,932 | 23,150 |
| 1989 | 156 | 85.3% | 6,194 | 18,815 | 31,461 |
| 1987 | 119 | 85.7% | 3,370 | 7,958 | 11,846 |
| 1986 | 92 | 77.2% | 4,001 | 5,537 | 13,406 |
| 1985 | 89 | 88.8% | 9,179 | 29,318 | 36,384 |
| 1984 | 74 | 89.2% | 2,882 | 5,913 | 14,424 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Trike Last?
Based on 298 Volkswagen Trike vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Trike Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Trike 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 Trike
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.1% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
77.2% MOT pass rate from 92 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Trike is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.1% across 51 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Trike Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Trike THIS CAR | 83.6% | 2,868 | 7,774 mi | 55 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 |
| Ferrari 812 Superfast S-a | 96.3% | 2,680 | 5,884 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Trike outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Trike 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 TrikeShould you buy a used Volkswagen Trike?
The Volkswagen Trike has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.6% across 2,868 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Volkswagen Trike are stop lamp not working (74 recorded failures), wheel bearing has excessive play (38), and position lamp(s) not working (29). 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 Trike owner drives around 426 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 Trike models stay on UK roads for around 55 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.