2010 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg passed 78.7% of its 4,756 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 20.5%, so the 2010 Touareg sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.9%) and lighting & signalling (10.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 448 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.9% | 517 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 488 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 230 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.6% | 217 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 139 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 97 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 448 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 144 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 140 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 139 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 125 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 114 |
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 | 24.3% | 1,154 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.7% | 1,032 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.3% | 920 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 584 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 448 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.8% | 369 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 158 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 662 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,596 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,406 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 921 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,644 | 21.4% |
| Petrol | 74 | 23.0% |
| Hybrid | 32 | 3.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,021 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 991 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 996 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 908 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 840 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Touareg
On a 2010 Touareg, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
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 2010 Volkswagen Touaregs pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 4,756 2010 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Touareg?
Suspension, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.3%).
Does the 2010 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 30-60k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,756 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.