2022 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
2,868 MOT tests on the 2022 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 90.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 10.0%, so the 2022 Passat sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.6% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 79 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2022 Passat fails 5.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 4.8pp more often than petrol ones (11.8% vs 7.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 188 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 61 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 45 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 45 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 50 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 42 |
| 4 | Wipers | 38 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 18 |
| 6 | Washers | 7 |
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 | 22.9% | 656 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 360 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 173 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 132 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 105 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 14 |
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 | 803 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,332 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 586 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 129 | 8.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,248 | 11.8% |
| Petrol | 961 | 7.0% |
| Diesel | 659 | 8.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 37 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 134 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 2,693 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Passat
On a 2022 Passat, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.6% 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.
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 2022 Volkswagen Passats pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 2,868 2022 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Volkswagen Passat?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.1%).
Does the 2022 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 8.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,868 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.