2021 Volkswagen ID.3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 23,606 MOT tests, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.3 recorded a 91.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 8.3%, so the 2021 ID.3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.5% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 466 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 ID.3 fails 7.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.9% of tests failed in 2022 against 8.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,533 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 374 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.1% | 263 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 142 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 99 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.3% | 67 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 466 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 411 |
| 3 | Wipers | 162 |
| 4 | Washers | 125 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 83 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 60 |
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 | 23.0% | 5,429 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.4% | 1,031 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 546 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 419 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 389 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 55 |
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 | 12,711 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 9,347 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,306 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 196 | 10.2% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 81 | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 459 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 11,328 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 11,737 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 ID.3
On a 2021 ID.3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.1% 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 2021 Volkswagen ID.3s pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 23,606 2021 Volkswagen ID.3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen ID.3?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).
Does the 2021 ID.3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,606 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.