2011 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,319 MOT tests, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta recorded a 76.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 22.7%, so the 2011 Jetta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 7.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and linkage ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 496 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 996 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 504 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 364 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 349 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 172 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 160 |
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 | 496 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 343 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 251 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 250 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 221 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 158 |
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 | 26.9% | 1,700 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.7% | 1,685 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.4% | 1,287 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 501 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 326 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 266 |
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 | 52 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 563 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,659 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,851 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,154 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,038 | 25.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,950 | 23.1% |
| Petrol | 369 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,470 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 1,397 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 1,263 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 1,165 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 1,024 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Jetta
On a 2011 Jetta, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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 2011 Volkswagen Jettas pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 6,319 2011 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.0%).
Does the 2011 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,319 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.