1991 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Volkswagen Jetta passed 79.4% of its 389 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 20.2%, so the 1991 Jetta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Jetta fails 20.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 22.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 40 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 29 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 18 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 12 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 14 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 13 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 13 |
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 | 27.0% | 105 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 90 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.8% | 77 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.5% | 68 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 58 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 68 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 103 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 80 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 118 | 22.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 354 | 21.5% |
| Diesel | 35 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 84 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 69 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 81 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Jetta
On a 1991 Jetta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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.
- Suspension (7.5% 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 1991 Volkswagen Jettas pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 389 1991 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Volkswagen Jetta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (10.3%).
Does the 1991 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 60-90k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 389 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.