2007 Volkswagen Fox — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Volkswagen Fox passed 70.0% of its 34,981 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.6%) and suspension (15.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,949 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.2% versus 29.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 5,813 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.3% | 5,343 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 3,921 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.1% | 3,173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 3,117 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.8% | 2,393 |
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 | 2,949 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,703 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,618 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,602 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,992 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,813 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.3% | 12,336 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.6% | 10,356 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 6,566 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 6,514 |
| 5 | Brakes | 16.0% | 5,589 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 4,004 |
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 | 4,293 | 29.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,459 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 10,022 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,704 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,387 | 33.4% |
| 150k+ | 645 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 34,903 | 30.0% |
| Diesel | 78 | 37.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,425 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 7,853 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 7,236 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 6,213 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 5,254 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Fox
On a 2007 Fox, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Foxs pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 34,981 2007 Volkswagen Fox MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Fox?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (15.3%).
Does the 2007 Fox get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,981 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.