2017 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Volkswagen Scirocco passed 86.7% of its 26,601 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), the 2017 Scirocco comes out 3.4pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests against 3.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 759 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.3% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 120-150k band, a 10.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 12.3% fail against 14.8% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 26,601 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 1,928 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 824 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 767 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 689 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 596 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 271 |
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 | 759 |
| 2 | Wipers | 541 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 521 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 519 |
| 5 | Washers | 337 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 291 |
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 | 24.9% | 6,622 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 4,750 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 2,637 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.5% | 1,470 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 848 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.1% | 558 |
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 | 6,256 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 14,232 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,093 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 893 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,588 | 12.3% |
| Diesel | 10,013 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,262 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 5,316 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 5,363 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 5,331 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 5,329 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Scirocco
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.2% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
- Visibility (2.9% 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 2017 Volkswagen Sciroccos pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 26,601 2017 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,601 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.