2011 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
39,236 MOT tests on the 2011 Volkswagen Scirocco are in this dataset, and 75.8% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 17.8% of the time, so this is 6.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.6%) and lighting & signalling (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 2,337 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.2% fail against 24.7% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 39,230 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.6% | 4,955 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 4,456 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.5% | 2,935 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.0% | 2,744 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,302 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 1,124 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,337 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,890 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,821 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,557 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,430 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,054 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.8% | 12,074 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 11,693 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.9% | 8,995 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 3,547 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,388 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 2,069 |
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 | 253 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,687 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 10,842 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 14,115 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,847 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,479 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 25,273 | 24.7% |
| Petrol | 13,957 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,049 | 22.6% |
| 2022 | 8,064 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 7,955 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 7,775 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 7,393 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Scirocco
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.5% 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.
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 2011 Volkswagen Sciroccos pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 39,236 2011 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Suspension, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.4%).
Does the 2011 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,236 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.