2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,498 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).

Pass rate

1,498

MOT tests analysed

9.0%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.5%	83
2	Brakes	2.3%	34
3	Lighting & signalling	1.6%	24
4	Visibility	0.9%	14
5	Suspension	0.5%	8
6	Emissions & environmental	0.5%	8

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	31
2	Headlamp aim	27
3	Brake pads	25
4	Brake discs	14
5	Wipers	11
6	Shock absorbers	8

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	21.1%	316
2	Brakes	17.8%	266
3	Other defects	7.3%	110
4	Suspension	5.4%	81
5	Visibility	2.3%	35
6	Road wheels	1.1%	16

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 Passat R-Line S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	305	9.8%
30-60k	752	8.6%
60-90k	313	8.0%
90-120k	94	10.6%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 2020 Passat R-Line S-A
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Diesel	1,401	8.7%
Petrol	97	13.4%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 Passat R-Line S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	490	8.8%
2024	511	9.6%
2025	485	8.9%

What to check before buying a 2020 Passat R-Line S-A

Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.5% 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.
Brakes (2.3% 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.
Lighting & signalling (1.6% 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 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-As pass their MOT?

91.0% of the 1,498 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by brakes (2.3%).

Does the 2020 Passat R-Line S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.6% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,498 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.