Volkswagen Corrado MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen Corrado appears in 7,629 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2021, and 79.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the Corrado comes out 2.7pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and brakes (10.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 456 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 20.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Corrado model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 126 | 81.0% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 393 | 79.4% | 20.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 687 | 80.5% | 19.5% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 1,085 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 1,053 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 1,648 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 2,036 | 80.8% | 19.3% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 545 | 79.3% | 20.7% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 847 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 791 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 539 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 410 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 390 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 361 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.4% | 186 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.0% | 150 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 456 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 359 |
| 3 | Wipers | 316 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 298 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 262 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 255 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 243 |
| 8 | Wheel bearings | 220 |
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 | 29.9% | 2,285 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.4% | 2,090 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 1,213 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 980 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.4% | 948 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 577 |
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 | 115 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 268 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 791 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,762 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,168 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,498 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,723 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 1,619 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 1,525 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 1,376 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 1,386 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Corrado
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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.
- Suspension (7.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Corrado?
79.2% of the 7,629 Volkswagen Corrado MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.8% fail rate, across model years 1989–2021.
What does the Volkswagen Corrado most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, then brakes (10.4%).
How much does mileage affect Corrado MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.9% for 150k+, a 9.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,629 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.