2018 Volkswagen Arteon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,759 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Volkswagen Arteon, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 89.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (89.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.7% in the 150k+ group versus 8.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.0% | 819 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.0% | 231 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 185 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 149 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 144 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 93 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 258 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 204 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 186 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 130 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 108 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 57 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.2% | 2,489 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 1,877 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 799 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 708 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 306 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 117 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,651 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 5,696 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,472 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 674 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 175 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,027 | 10.5% |
| Diesel | 5,725 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,489 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 2,368 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 2,317 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 2,296 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 2,289 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Arteon
Before buying a 2018 Volkswagen Arteon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.0% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (7.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (2.0% 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 (1.6% 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 2018 Volkswagen Arteons pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 11,759 2018 Volkswagen Arteon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Arteon?
Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.0%).
Does the 2018 Arteon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,759 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.