2012 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
11,329 MOT tests on the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg are in this dataset, and 83.7% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 17.8% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.7% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 1,207 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Touareg fails 15.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 18.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
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 — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.7% | 989 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 626 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.0% | 455 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 339 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 202 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 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 | 1,207 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 344 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 200 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 174 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 154 |
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% | 2,407 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 1,907 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 1,391 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 916 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 888 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 452 |
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 | 77 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 684 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,031 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,204 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,325 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,004 | 18.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,227 | 16.4% |
| Petrol | 75 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,334 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 2,356 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 2,284 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 2,237 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 2,118 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Touareg
On a 2012 Touareg, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.0% 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 2012 Volkswagen Touaregs pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 11,329 2012 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg?
Suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2012 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,329 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.