2001 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
9,047 MOT tests on the 2001 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 72.2% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests against 12.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 724 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.6% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.7% of the time against 27.9% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.0% in 2021 to 25.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 1,527 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 1,106 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 902 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 896 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 487 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 477 |
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 | 724 |
| 2 | Joints | 678 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 671 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 575 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 427 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 411 |
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 | 37.5% | 3,392 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.3% | 3,189 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.3% | 2,564 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 2,047 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 1,815 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.6% | 1,499 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 226 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 821 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,390 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,784 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 4,792 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,529 | 27.9% |
| Petrol | 3,518 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,922 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 2,148 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 1,707 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 1,298 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 972 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 2001 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 9,047 2001 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Passat?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2001 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.9% in the 30-60k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,047 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.