2021 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
4,413 MOT tests on the 2021 Volkswagen Touareg are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 8.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 4.5% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 68 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Touareg fails 6.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.7% of the time against 7.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 199 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 65 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 60 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 52 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 37 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 68 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 66 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 36 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 35 |
| 6 | Washers | 32 |
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 | 19.7% | 868 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 517 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 244 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 35 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 24 |
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 | 1,490 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,513 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 362 | 8.8% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,821 | 7.6% |
| Petrol | 521 | 6.7% |
| Hybrid | 71 | 9.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 105 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 2,219 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 2,087 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Touareg
On a 2021 Touareg, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.4% 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.
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 2021 Volkswagen Touaregs pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 4,413 2021 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Touareg?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.5%).
Does the 2021 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,413 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.