2002 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
15,543 MOT tests on the 2002 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 72.7% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 28.1%, so the 2002 Passat sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,427 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 20.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.9% of the time against 27.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 24.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 2,583 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 1,749 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 1,700 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.8% | 1,676 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 778 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 770 |
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 | 1,427 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,138 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,080 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 908 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 708 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 614 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.7% | 5,860 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.6% | 5,534 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 4,329 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.4% | 3,487 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 3,017 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.7% | 2,436 |
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 | 40 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 359 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,175 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,330 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,190 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 8,434 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,658 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 4,885 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,959 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 3,817 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 2,929 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 2,178 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 1,660 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Passat
On a 2002 Passat, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 15,543 2002 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volkswagen Passat?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2002 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,543 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.