2014 Volkswagen High Up — MOT failures & pass rate
1,213 MOT tests on the 2014 Volkswagen High Up are in this dataset, and 88.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 18.3% of the time, so this is 6.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.1%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 44 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.2% in the 0-30k band and 23.5% in the 90-120k band, a 16.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.1% | 50 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 47 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.6% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 43 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 19 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 3 | Wipers | 35 |
| 4 | Fuel cap/sealing device | 20 |
| 5 | Washers | 18 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
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 | 20.9% | 254 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 209 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.3% | 89 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 41 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 400 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 491 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 243 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 236 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 248 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 236 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 247 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 246 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 High Up
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.1% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
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 2014 Volkswagen High Ups pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 1,213 2014 Volkswagen High Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen High Up?
Brakes, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2014 High Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,213 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.