2010 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
79,755 MOT tests on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 9.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 4,823 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.1% in the 0-30k band and 24.5% in the 150k+ band, a 13.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.9% fail against 24.2% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 79,748 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 10,915 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 7,873 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.3% | 6,577 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.6% | 3,634 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 3,483 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,123 |
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 | 4,823 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,225 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,218 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3,043 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 2,981 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 2,702 |
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 | 38.8% | 30,976 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.1% | 24,847 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 18,134 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 10,291 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 7,998 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 4,527 |
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 | 171 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,143 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 8,988 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 18,924 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 21,475 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 28,039 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 77,487 | 24.2% |
| Petrol | 2,261 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,622 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 17,541 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 16,293 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 14,577 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 12,722 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.3% 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.
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 2010 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 79,755 2010 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Passat?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.9%).
Does the 2010 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,755 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.