2007 Volkswagen Phaeton — MOT failures & pass rate
658 MOT tests on the 2007 Volkswagen Phaeton are in this dataset, and 81.3% of them passed. That is 8.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.8%. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.4%) and tyres (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and rbt (sp) — pins and bushes alone was recorded 34 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Phaeton fails 14.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 17.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.4% | 55 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.9% | 52 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 39 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 34 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 22 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 20 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
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 | 27.4% | 180 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 164 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.0% | 125 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 52 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 49 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 31 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 41 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 121 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 124 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 196 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 167 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 613 | 19.6% |
| Petrol | 45 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 183 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 157 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 133 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 103 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 82 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Phaeton
On a 2007 Phaeton, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Tyres (7.9% 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 (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2007 Volkswagen Phaetons pass their MOT?
81.3% of the 658 2007 Volkswagen Phaeton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Brakes, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by tyres (7.9%).
Does the 2007 Phaeton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 30-60k band to 17.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 658 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.