Volkswagen Beetle: body, structure & corrosion MOT failures
Body, structure & corrosion was a recorded failure area in 5.4% of Volkswagen Beetle MOT tests in this dataset. It is most prominent on 2003, 2004 cars.
The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair cost: £200–£1,500+ (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Body, structure & corrosion failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 371 | 6.5% |
| 2000 | 6,666 | 9.0% |
| 2001 | 9,434 | 7.7% |
| 2003 | 21,432 | 9.9% |
| 2004 | 28,286 | 10.3% |
Methodology & source. 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.