2020 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan passed 91.2% of its 82,073 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 8.7%, so the 2020 Tiguan sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and brakes (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, brake pads and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 1,971 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.8% versus 6.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (9.7% vs 8.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 3,473 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.4% | 1,983 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 1,215 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,072 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 1,034 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 588 |
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 | 1,971 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,659 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,041 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 927 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 892 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 554 |
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 | 21.3% | 17,465 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 14,692 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.8% | 8,008 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 6,662 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,070 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 316 |
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 | 36,604 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 39,098 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,600 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 648 | 11.9% |
| 120-150k | 93 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 44,892 | 8.1% |
| Diesel | 37,181 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 1,264 | 6.3% |
| 2023 | 27,740 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 26,675 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 26,350 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Tiguan
On a 2020 Tiguan, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (1.5% 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 2020 Volkswagen Tiguans pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 82,073 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by brakes (2.4%).
Does the 2020 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,073 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.