2007 Volkswagen California — MOT failures & pass rate
321 MOT tests on the 2007 Volkswagen California are in this dataset, and 83.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 10.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.0%) and lighting & signalling (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 20 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 24.6% versus 9.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.0% | 29 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 29 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 11 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 12 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 9 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7 |
| 6 | Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.5% | 85 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.4% | 72 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.3% | 62 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 40 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 19 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 101 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 10.5% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 67 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 58 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 67 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 66 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 California
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2007 Volkswagen Californias pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 321 2007 Volkswagen California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen California?
Suspension, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.0%).
Does the 2007 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 60-90k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 321 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.