2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 11,964 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 10.6% in the 60-90k group versus 5.4% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

11,964

MOT tests analysed

7.2%

Fail rate

better than

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	3.9%	466
2	Brakes	2.4%	285
3	Visibility	0.9%	112
4	Suspension	0.7%	85
5	Lighting & signalling	0.7%	78
6	Other defects	0.3%	39

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	330
2	Brake pads	275
3	Headlamp aim	86
4	Pins and bushes	79
5	Brake discs	75
6	Wipers	72

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	18.5%	2,208
2	Tyres	16.5%	1,974
3	Other defects	10.8%	1,297
4	Suspension	6.5%	774
5	Visibility	2.8%	333
6	Lighting & signalling	0.4%	42

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Tiguan R-Line S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	6,061	5.4%
30-60k	5,502	8.9%
60-90k	369	10.6%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 2021 Tiguan R-Line S-A
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Petrol	11,712	7.2%
Diesel	252	5.2%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Tiguan R-Line S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	296	5.7%
2024	5,835	7.2%
2025	5,828	7.3%

What to check before buying a 2021 Tiguan R-Line S-A

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests for this year.

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.
Brakes (2.4% 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 (0.9% 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 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-As pass their MOT?

92.8% of the 11,964 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by brakes (2.4%).

Does the 2021 Tiguan R-Line S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 10.6% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 11,964 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.