2020 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Volkswagen Passat passed 90.6% of its 20,031 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.6% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, 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 458 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.9% in the 0-30k band and 11.9% in the 150k+ band, a 5.0-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.0% of the time against 9.9% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,124 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.7% | 345 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.5% | 299 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 282 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 245 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 125 |
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 | 458 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 330 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 301 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 211 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 179 |
| 6 | Wipers | 165 |
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 | 21.7% | 4,355 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 3,495 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 1,570 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.2% | 1,243 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 640 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 76 |
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 | 4,648 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 9,132 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,176 | 10.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,431 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 433 | 13.6% |
| 150k+ | 210 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,586 | 9.4% |
| Petrol | 4,140 | 9.0% |
| Hybrid | 3,305 | 9.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 260 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 6,705 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 6,615 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 6,365 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Passat
On a 2020 Passat, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Brakes (1.7% 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.
- Suspension (1.5% 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.
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 2020 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 20,031 2020 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by brakes (1.7%).
Does the 2020 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,031 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.