2019 Volkswagen Arteon — MOT failures & pass rate
10,530 MOT tests on the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon are in this dataset, and 89.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests against 1.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 231 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.1% in the 0-30k band and 12.9% in the 120-150k band, a 5.8-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.6% fail against 11.5% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 10,530 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 763 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.8% | 188 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.5% | 157 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 109 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 76 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 53 |
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 | 231 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 171 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 149 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 77 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 67 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 47 |
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 | 21.7% | 2,282 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 1,648 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 864 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 718 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 258 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 70 |
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 | 3,253 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,168 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,591 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 400 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 93 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,641 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 4,889 | 11.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 2,728 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 2,643 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 2,536 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 2,530 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Arteon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.2% 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 (1.8% 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 (1.5% 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 2019 Volkswagen Arteons pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 10,530 2019 Volkswagen Arteon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Arteon?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by brakes (1.8%).
Does the 2019 Arteon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,530 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.