2018 Volkswagen T-Roc — MOT failures & pass rate
84,620 MOT tests on the 2018 Volkswagen T-Roc are in this dataset, and 92.9% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), the 2018 T-Roc comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.5%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 3,003 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.7% versus 5.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.5pp more often than petrol ones (8.4% vs 6.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,941 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 2,905 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 1,401 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,073 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 426 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 306 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,003 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,732 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,194 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,038 |
| 5 | Washers | 530 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 375 |
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 | 22.6% | 19,085 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 13,133 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 5,859 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 2,800 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 2,647 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 167 |
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 | 34,478 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 40,212 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 8,769 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,000 | 13.4% |
| 120-150k | 131 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 71,502 | 6.9% |
| Diesel | 13,118 | 8.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,700 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 17,012 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 17,004 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 16,904 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 17,000 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 T-Roc
On a 2018 T-Roc, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.5% 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 (1.7% 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.
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 2018 Volkswagen T-Rocs pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 84,620 2018 Volkswagen T-Roc MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen T-Roc?
Visibility, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2018 T-Roc get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,620 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.