2018 Volkswagen California — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Volkswagen California passed 90.0% of its 6,314 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.1%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and brakes (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 123 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 16.7% in the 90-120k band, a 10.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 284 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.3% | 145 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.1% | 135 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 128 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 65 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 54 |
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 | 123 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 107 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 84 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 53 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 40 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 35 |
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 | 17.2% | 1,085 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 887 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 319 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 283 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 163 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 57 |
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 | 3,168 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,600 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 488 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,035 | 10.1% |
| Petrol | 279 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,217 | 6.2% |
| 2022 | 1,257 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 1,277 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 1,255 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 1,308 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 California
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (2.3% 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.
- Suspension (2.1% 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 Californias pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 6,314 2018 Volkswagen California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen California?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by brakes (2.3%).
Does the 2018 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,314 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.