2019 Volkswagen T-Roc — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 90,612 MOT tests, the 2019 Volkswagen T-Roc recorded a 93.7% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and visibility (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,710 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.1% once past 120-150k — 3.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 5.6% fail against 7.5% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 90,612 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 3,255 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,526 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.3% | 1,169 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 1,121 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 494 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 494 |
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 | 1,710 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,259 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,125 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,024 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 464 |
| 6 | Washers | 452 |
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 | 22.8% | 20,649 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 10,938 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 6,289 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,407 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 2,083 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 192 |
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 | 41,211 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 40,311 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 7,870 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,035 | 12.0% |
| 120-150k | 152 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 58,861 | 5.6% |
| Diesel | 31,751 | 7.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 875 | 3.3% |
| 2022 | 22,895 | 5.0% |
| 2023 | 22,468 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 22,065 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 22,309 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 T-Roc
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
- Brakes (1.3% 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 2019 Volkswagen T-Rocs pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 90,612 2019 Volkswagen T-Roc MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen T-Roc?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.7%).
Does the 2019 T-Roc get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 90,612 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.