2019 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
34,118 MOT tests on the 2019 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 89.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 11.5%, so the 2019 Passat sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.0% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 932 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 Passat fails 7.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (11.3% vs 9.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 2,063 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.1% | 711 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 647 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 513 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 425 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 350 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 932 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 816 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 485 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 437 |
| 5 | Wipers | 339 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 323 |
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 | 23.0% | 7,841 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 6,492 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 3,015 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.0% | 2,391 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,161 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 159 |
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 | 6,766 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 14,347 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,908 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,191 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,214 | 13.4% |
| 150k+ | 692 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,428 | 11.3% |
| Petrol | 10,417 | 9.0% |
| Hybrid | 1,273 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 394 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 8,723 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 8,713 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 8,167 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 8,121 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Passat
On a 2019 Passat, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Suspension (2.1% 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 (1.9% 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 2019 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 34,118 2019 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by suspension (2.1%).
Does the 2019 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,118 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.