2010 Volkswagen Fox — MOT failures & pass rate
51,884 MOT tests on the 2010 Volkswagen Fox are in this dataset, and 72.6% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 2010 Fox comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.8%) and lighting & signalling (15.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — washers alone was recorded 3,198 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 8,198 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 8,024 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.5% | 4,937 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 3,596 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.2% | 3,230 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 2,928 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 3,198 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,160 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 3,051 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,804 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 2,506 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,490 |
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 | 28.9% | 14,974 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.7% | 13,864 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 7,020 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 6,971 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 6,464 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 4,895 |
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 | 3,665 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 14,958 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 19,501 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 10,378 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,691 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 685 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,013 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 10,882 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 10,628 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 10,099 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 9,262 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fox
On a 2010 Fox, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (9.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2010 Volkswagen Foxs pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 51,884 2010 Volkswagen Fox MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Fox?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.5%).
Does the 2010 Fox get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,884 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.