2018 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
165,402 MOT tests on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan are in this dataset, and 90.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and visibility (3.1%) 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 5,712 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.8% versus 8.0%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.8% fail against 10.4% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 165,402 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 7,543 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 5,118 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 3,683 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 2,496 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 2,270 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 2,085 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 5,712 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 5,298 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,912 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,024 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,958 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,605 |
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 | 23.6% | 39,040 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 30,497 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.8% | 16,177 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 7,918 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 5,046 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 873 |
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 | 48,139 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 82,938 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 28,260 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,954 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 879 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 225 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 119,435 | 10.4% |
| Petrol | 45,967 | 8.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,678 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 32,897 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 32,593 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 32,602 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 32,632 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Tiguan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (3.1% 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 (2.2% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 165,402 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2018 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 165,402 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.