2023 Volkswagen ID.3 — MOT failures & pass rate
668 MOT tests on the 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 are in this dataset, and 91.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 5.9% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.2% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 21 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2023 ID.3 fails 6.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.0% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 48 |
| 2 | Visibility | 0.8% | 5 |
| 3 | Suspension | 0.8% | 5 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 3 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 7 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 4 | Windscreen | 2 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 1 |
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 | 25.6% | 171 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.3% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 13 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.9% | 6 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 6 |
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 | 379 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 236 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 50 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 149 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 517 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2023 ID.3
On a 2023 ID.3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.2% 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.
- Visibility (0.8% 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.
- Suspension (0.8% 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.
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 2023 Volkswagen ID.3s pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 668 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Volkswagen ID.3?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by visibility (0.8%).
Does the 2023 ID.3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 668 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.