2022 Volkswagen Up — MOT failures & pass rate
2,669 MOT tests on the 2022 Volkswagen Up are in this dataset, and 93.2% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 5.8% of the time, so this is 1.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and lighting & signalling (2.5%) 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 headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 63 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 10.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 129 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 68 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.9% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 13 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 7 |
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 | 63 |
| 2 | Wipers | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 11 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Size/type | 6 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 5 |
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 | 10.3% | 276 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.1% | 109 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 97 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 46 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 20 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 13 |
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 | 2,439 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 211 | 10.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 129 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 2,537 | 6.8% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Up
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.9% 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 2022 Volkswagen Ups pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 2,669 2022 Volkswagen Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Volkswagen Up?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.5%).
Does the 2022 Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,669 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.