2012 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat passed 78.4% of its 93,294 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 11.4% of tests against 8.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,942 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.7% in the 0-30k band and 22.9% in the 150k+ band, a 8.2-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.3% fail against 21.7% for diesel, a 5.4-point gap across 93,292 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.4% | 10,639 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.2% | 7,611 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 6,539 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 3,935 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 3,278 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 2,020 |
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 | 5,942 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,528 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 3,829 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,575 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 3,061 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,928 |
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 | 33.5% | 31,224 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.3% | 28,232 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.0% | 20,486 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 9,001 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 4,908 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 4,384 |
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 | 299 | 14.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,857 | 15.5% |
| 60-90k | 14,739 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 24,312 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 22,652 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 27,425 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 91,673 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 1,619 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,042 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 19,559 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 18,958 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 17,881 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 16,854 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.4% 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 (8.2% 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 (7.0% 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 2012 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 93,294 2012 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volkswagen Passat?
Suspension, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by tyres (8.2%).
Does the 2012 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,294 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.