2017 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta passed 84.1% of its 2,125 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.0 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.7% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 142 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.6% in the 0-30k band and 17.5% in the 150k+ band, a 6.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (17.4% vs 14.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.7% | 184 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 113 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 77 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 43 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 142 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 79 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 4 | Wipers | 48 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 33 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 32 |
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 | 21.4% | 455 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 287 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 239 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 109 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 58 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 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 | 499 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 971 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 419 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 17.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,135 | 17.4% |
| Petrol | 990 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 425 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 437 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 426 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 422 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 415 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Jetta
On a 2017 Jetta, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.7% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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 (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2017 Volkswagen Jettas pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 2,125 2017 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?
Suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2017 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,125 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.