2007 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
16,155 MOT tests on the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta are in this dataset, and 74.1% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 Jetta comes out 1.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.8% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 912 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.9% in the 0-30k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.8-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.0% fail against 26.2% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 16,155 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.8% | 2,221 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 1,735 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 1,292 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 1,263 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,035 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 774 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 912 |
| 2 | Joints | 889 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 872 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 698 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 575 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 560 |
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 | 35.2% | 5,680 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.0% | 5,012 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 3,927 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 2,409 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 2,323 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 1,911 |
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 | 105 | 22.9% |
| 30-60k | 531 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,927 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,021 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,653 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 4,874 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,065 | 26.2% |
| Petrol | 2,090 | 24.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,496 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 3,814 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 3,282 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 2,589 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 1,974 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Jetta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.8% 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 (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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.
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 2007 Volkswagen Jettas pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 16,155 2007 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta?
Suspension, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2007 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,155 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.