Volkswagen T-Cross MOT pass rate & common failures
82,478 MOT tests on the Volkswagen T-Cross (2019–2024) give it a 91.8% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 8.0%, so the T-Cross sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst T-Cross years
Ranked across T-Cross years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2022 (94.0% pass rate); the weakest is 2019 (90.8%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and brakes (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and brake discs — brake pads alone was recorded 2,031 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.2% in the 0-30k band and 16.7% in the 120-150k band, a 10.5-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.2% of the time against 8.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every T-Cross model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 29,454 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 24,864 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 19,491 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Brakes |
| 2022 | 8,259 | 94.0% | 6.0% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 402 | 96.3% | 3.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 2,950 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 2,494 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 1,225 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 1,109 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.6% | 467 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 348 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.4% | 310 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 227 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 2,031 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 885 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 873 |
| 4 | Washers | 804 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 713 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 560 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 555 |
| 8 | Wipers | 402 |
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 | 19.7% | 16,262 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 14,556 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 5,233 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.6% | 2,108 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 1,620 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 1,181 |
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 | 54,017 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 25,971 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,252 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 195 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 80,518 | 8.2% |
| Diesel | 1,960 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 7,488 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 15,825 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 25,191 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 33,918 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen T-Cross
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen T-Cross?
91.8% of the 82,478 Volkswagen T-Cross MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.2% fail rate, across model years 2019–2024.
What does the Volkswagen T-Cross most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, then brakes (3.0%).
Which T-Cross years are best and worst for MOT results?
2022 has the best pass rate at 94.0% and 2019 the weakest at 90.8%, from 8,259 and 29,454 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect T-Cross MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.7% for 120-150k, a 10.5-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel T-Cross more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 8.2% of the time against 8.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,478 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.