2021 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,537 MOT tests, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat recorded a 90.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests against 1.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 191 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Passat fails 5.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.3 points.
The diesel cars hold up better: 8.8% fail against 11.4% for hybrid, a 2.6-point gap across 6,558 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 469 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 152 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.7% | 146 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 136 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 127 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 50 |
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 | 191 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 174 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 167 |
| 4 | Wipers | 99 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 84 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 53 |
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 | 22.7% | 1,936 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.2% | 1,380 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 564 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 446 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 336 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 61 |
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 | 1,655 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,919 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,122 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 652 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 145 | 10.3% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 6.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,961 | 8.8% |
| Hybrid | 2,597 | 11.4% |
| Petrol | 1,979 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 119 | 1.7% |
| 2023 | 233 | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 4,092 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 4,008 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.7% 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.
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 2021 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 8,537 2021 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2021 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 6.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,537 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.