2021 Volkswagen Up — MOT failures & pass rate
6,566 MOT tests on the 2021 Volkswagen Up are in this dataset, and 93.0% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail at 6.6%, so the 2021 Up sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 152 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Up fails 6.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.2% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 7.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 310 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 156 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.1% | 70 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 47 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 31 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 152 |
| 2 | Wipers | 50 |
| 3 | Washers | 29 |
| 4 | Joints | 28 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 19 |
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 | 12.7% | 832 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 306 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 296 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 107 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 81 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 55 |
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 | 5,589 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 873 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 88 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 111 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 3,190 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 3,253 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Up
On a 2021 Up, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.1% 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.
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 Ups pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 6,566 2021 Volkswagen Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Up?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2021 Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,566 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.