2019 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Volkswagen Touareg passed 90.0% of its 13,229 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and suspension (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 523 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.0% in the 0-30k band and 10.7% in the 120-150k band, a 4.7-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.2% fail against 10.2% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 13,229 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 553 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.2% | 550 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 199 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 119 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 96 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 71 |
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 | 523 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 249 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 206 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 110 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 69 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 66 |
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 | 18.1% | 2,390 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 1,742 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 832 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 350 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 303 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 33 |
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 | 3,647 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 7,033 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,150 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 319 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,676 | 10.2% |
| Petrol | 553 | 7.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 141 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 3,334 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 3,254 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 3,278 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 3,222 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Touareg
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (4.2% 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.
- Brakes (1.5% 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 2019 Volkswagen Touaregs pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 13,229 2019 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Touareg?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by suspension (4.2%).
Does the 2019 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 10.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,229 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.