2012 Volkswagen Amarok — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Volkswagen Amarok passed 78.3% of its 7,835 recorded MOT tests. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (24.5% fail rate), the 2012 Amarok comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.2% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and rbt (sp) — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 357 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 23.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 1,115 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 771 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 566 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 379 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 244 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.7% | 209 |
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 | 357 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 319 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 304 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 288 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 284 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 277 |
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 | 22.8% | 1,783 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.6% | 1,461 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 1,038 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 838 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 559 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 549 |
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 | 316 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,480 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,427 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,942 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,642 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,671 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 1,641 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 1,549 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 1,521 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 1,453 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Amarok
On a 2012 Amarok, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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 (7.2% 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 2012 Volkswagen Amaroks pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 7,835 2012 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volkswagen Amarok?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2012 Amarok get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 30-60k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,835 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.