2018 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 63,334 MOT tests, the 2018 Volkswagen Passat recorded an 88.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (12.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests against 2.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and shock absorbers — wipers alone was recorded 1,846 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Passat fails 9.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.1% fail against 11.8% for hybrid, a 1.7-point gap across 20,127 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 3,985 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,706 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 1,340 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 1,183 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 1,123 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 788 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,846 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,776 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 1,095 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,022 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,021 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 726 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.6% | 14,972 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 12,002 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 4,505 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 3,390 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 2,657 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 301 |
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 | 8,692 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 23,989 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 17,323 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,140 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,109 | 13.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,079 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 43,207 | 11.7% |
| Petrol | 10,929 | 10.1% |
| Hybrid | 9,198 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,556 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 12,867 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 12,549 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 12,217 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 12,145 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.1% 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 2018 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 63,334 2018 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.7%).
Does the 2018 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,334 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.