2014 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco passed 81.8% of its 22,683 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 13.3% of the time, so this is 4.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (8.2%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 919 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.0% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (18.7% vs 16.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.2% | 1,852 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 1,652 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 1,155 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 1,033 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 666 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 419 |
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 | 919 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 731 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 596 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 520 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 405 |
| 6 | Washers | 394 |
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 | 27.1% | 6,145 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 4,805 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.8% | 4,266 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 1,181 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 1,132 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 940 |
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 | 616 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 5,748 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,496 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,052 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,420 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 348 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,544 | 18.7% |
| Petrol | 6,139 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,441 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 4,477 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 4,537 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 4,646 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 4,582 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Scirocco
On a 2014 Scirocco, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.2% 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 (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.1% 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 2014 Volkswagen Sciroccos pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 22,683 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Tyres, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2014 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,683 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.