Volkswagen Beetle reliability and MOT data

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Volkswagen

Model: Beetle

Model reliability rank
43
MOT-based rank from 325,643 selected-period tests.
View More models
Overall MOT pass rate
69.6%
Share of this model's 325,643 selected-period MOT tests that pass.
View manufacturers
Efficiency, emissions & tax
Average MPG
50.5 mpg
CO2 emission
135 g/km
Euro emissions
Euro 6
Tax cost
£200/yr
Average vehicle miles
90,138
Moderate average mileage in the current pool.
Life expectancy miles
92,043
Lower mature-fleet mileage expectation.
Average vehicle age
18.1
Older average age in the represented fleet.
Market share
0.09%
0.09% share within the active represented vehicle pool.
Vehicles represented
36,526
36,523 valid MOT, 3 under 3 years.
Tests analysed
325,643
325,643 MOT tests in the selected period.
Rarity ranking
Based on Make & Model
Scarce
36,526On the road
Insight summary

Volkswagen Beetle is a scarce model in this snapshot, with 36,526 represented vehicles and 0.09% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 69.6% from 325,643 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 43. The current pool shows an average of 90,138 miles and an average age of 18.1 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 92,043 miles. Petrol leads the fuel split, followed by diesel, and the most frequent defect themes are engine warning light, windscreen damage and parking brake. The practical read is that the Volkswagen Beetle deserves a careful inspection before buying, because condition and maintenance appear to matter more than the badge.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)
FuelVehicles
PETROL26,844
DIESEL9,630
OTHER38
ELECTRIC14
PETROL73.5%26,844 vehicles
Euro NCAP Safety
No NCAP tests found for this model.
Top 25 most common defects (by model)
DefectCount
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))9,196
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))7,790
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))5,367
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))4,710
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))4,345
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))4,180
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))3,756
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))3,596
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))3,592
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))3,540
Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))3,503
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))3,277
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))3,264
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))3,204
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))3,028
Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))3,023
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))2,943
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))2,916
Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))2,902
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))2,762
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))2,688
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))2,672
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))2,613
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))2,525
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))2,498
All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 93,890 defects across this top 25 set
01
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
9.8% of displayed top 25
9,196
02
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
8.3% of displayed top 25
7,790
03
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
5.7% of displayed top 25
5,367
04
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))
5.0% of displayed top 25
4,710
05
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))
4.6% of displayed top 25
4,345
06
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
4.5% of displayed top 25
4,180
07
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
4.0% of displayed top 25
3,756
08
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
3.8% of displayed top 25
3,596
09
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
3.8% of displayed top 25
3,592
10
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
3.8% of displayed top 25
3,540
11
Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
3.7% of displayed top 25
3,503
12
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
3.5% of displayed top 25
3,277
13
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
3.5% of displayed top 25
3,264
14
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))
3.4% of displayed top 25
3,204
15
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
3.2% of displayed top 25
3,028
16
Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))
3.2% of displayed top 25
3,023
17
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
3.1% of displayed top 25
2,943
18
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
3.1% of displayed top 25
2,916
19
Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))
3.1% of displayed top 25
2,902
20
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
2.9% of displayed top 25
2,762
21
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
2.9% of displayed top 25
2,688
22
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
2.8% of displayed top 25
2,672
23
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))
2.8% of displayed top 25
2,613
24
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
2.7% of displayed top 25
2,525
25
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
2.7% of displayed top 25
2,498