2021 Volkswagen T-Roc — MOT failures & pass rate
45,450 MOT tests on the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc are in this dataset, and 94.0% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (7.2% fail rate), the 2021 T-Roc comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and visibility (1.2%) 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 brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 775 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.5% versus 4.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.0% of the time against 6.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,752 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.2% | 539 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 529 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 523 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 242 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 110 |
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 | 775 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 524 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 498 |
| 4 | Wipers | 398 |
| 5 | Washers | 203 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 101 |
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 | 19.4% | 8,835 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 4,643 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 3,066 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,232 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,174 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 114 |
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 | 27,814 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 16,417 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,111 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 13.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 41,585 | 6.0% |
| Diesel | 3,863 | 6.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 886 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 22,367 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 22,183 | 6.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 T-Roc
On a 2021 T-Roc, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.9% 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 (1.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% 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
How many 2021 Volkswagen T-Rocs pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 45,450 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by visibility (1.2%).
Does the 2021 T-Roc get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,450 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.