2011 Volkswagen Amarok — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Volkswagen Amarok passed 77.5% of its 3,677 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.5 percentage points better than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 224 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 23.6% versus 19.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 625 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 394 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 254 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 200 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 116 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 97 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 224 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 176 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 162 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 158 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 135 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 130 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.6% | 757 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.3% | 671 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.3% | 598 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 507 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 299 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 271 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 159 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 534 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,058 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 961 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 948 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 789 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 772 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 725 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 722 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 669 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Amarok
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (6.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2011 Volkswagen Amaroks pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 3,677 2011 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Amarok?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2011 Amarok get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,677 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.