2017 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 146,037 MOT tests, the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan recorded a 90.4% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2017 Tiguan comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and emissions & environmental (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 4,620 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 12.6% in the 150k+ band, a 5.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (9.8% vs 8.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 6,722 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 3,466 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 3,134 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 2,267 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 2,135 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 1,417 |
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 | 4,620 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,393 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,344 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,895 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,699 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 1,346 |
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 | 23.7% | 34,612 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 29,281 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.2% | 13,458 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 4,537 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 4,170 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 790 |
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 | 20,445 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 74,126 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 40,081 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,242 | 12.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,738 | 12.7% |
| 150k+ | 397 | 12.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 124,892 | 9.8% |
| Petrol | 21,145 | 8.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,345 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 29,157 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 29,289 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 29,258 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 28,988 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Tiguan
On a 2017 Tiguan, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (2.1% 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 2017 Volkswagen Tiguans pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 146,037 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.4%).
Does the 2017 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 146,037 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.