2023 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan passed 91.2% of its 1,281 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 5.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.4%) and visibility (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 47 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 43 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 38 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 38 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 47 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 46 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 9 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 5 |
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 | 13.5% | 173 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 134 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 84 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 40 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 32 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 3 |
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 | 893 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 363 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,026 | 9.4% |
| Diesel | 215 | 7.9% |
| Hybrid | 40 | 0.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 1,237 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Tiguan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 (3.0% 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 (3.0% 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 2023 Volkswagen Tiguans pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 1,281 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2023 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,281 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.