2020 Volkswagen Arteon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,435 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.8% | 267 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.5% | 53 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.3% | 46 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 36 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 32 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 19 |
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 | 73 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 42 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 32 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 28 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 6 | Wipers | 24 |
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 | 19.4% | 666 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 446 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 273 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 201 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 85 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 25 |
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 | 1,266 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,697 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 380 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,259 | 10.1% |
| Diesel | 1,176 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 52 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 1,164 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 1,127 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 1,091 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Arteon
Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Arteon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (7.8% 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.
- 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.
- Brakes (1.3% 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.
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 2020 Volkswagen Arteons pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 3,435 2020 Volkswagen Arteon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Arteon?
Tyres, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by suspension (1.5%).
Does the 2020 Arteon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,435 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.