Volkswagen California reliability and MOT data

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Volkswagen

Model: California

Model reliability rank
57
MOT-based rank from 49,235 selected-period tests.
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Overall MOT pass rate
84.0%
Share of this model's 49,235 selected-period MOT tests that pass.
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Efficiency, emissions & tax
Average MPG
-
CO2 emission
-
Euro emissions
-
Tax cost
£340/yr
Average vehicle miles
64,114
Lower average mileage in the analysed fleet.
Life expectancy miles
76,553
Lower mature-fleet mileage expectation.
Average vehicle age
10.2
Average age sits in the mid-fleet band.
Market share
0.02%
0.02% share within the active represented vehicle pool.
Vehicles represented
8,127
8,126 valid MOT, 1 under 3 years.
Tests analysed
49,235
49,235 MOT tests in the selected period.
Rarity ranking
Based on Make & Model
Rare
8,127On the road
Insight summary

Volkswagen California is a rare model in this snapshot, with 8,127 represented vehicles and 0.02% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 84.0% from 49,235 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 57. The current pool shows an average of 64,114 miles and an average age of 10.2 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 76,553 miles. Diesel leads the fuel split, followed by petrol, and the most frequent defect themes are windscreen damage, coil springs and lighting. The practical read is that the Volkswagen California looks a little better than average, but still rewards careful checks on mileage and maintenance.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)
FuelVehicles
DIESEL8,053
PETROL74
DIESEL99.1%8,053 vehicles
Euro NCAP Safety
No NCAP tests found for this model.
Top 25 most common defects (by model)
DefectCount
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))815
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))808
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))640
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))583
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))363
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))352
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))335
Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))262
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (5.2.3 (h))243
Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))214
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))211
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))201
Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))178
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))176
Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))166
Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))162
Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))151
Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))149
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))148
Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))142
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))139
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))138
Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))132
Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))122
Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))122
All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 6,952 defects across this top 25 set
01
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
11.7% of displayed top 25
815
02
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
11.6% of displayed top 25
808
03
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
9.2% of displayed top 25
640
04
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
8.4% of displayed top 25
583
05
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
5.2% of displayed top 25
363
06
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))
5.1% of displayed top 25
352
07
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
4.8% of displayed top 25
335
08
Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))
3.8% of displayed top 25
262
09
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (5.2.3 (h))
3.5% of displayed top 25
243
10
Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))
3.1% of displayed top 25
214
11
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))
3.0% of displayed top 25
211
12
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
2.9% of displayed top 25
201
13
Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))
2.6% of displayed top 25
178
14
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
2.5% of displayed top 25
176
15
Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
2.4% of displayed top 25
166
16
Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
2.3% of displayed top 25
162
17
Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))
2.2% of displayed top 25
151
18
Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))
2.1% of displayed top 25
149
19
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.1% of displayed top 25
148
20
Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))
2.0% of displayed top 25
142
21
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
2.0% of displayed top 25
139
22
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.0% of displayed top 25
138
23
Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
1.9% of displayed top 25
132
24
Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
1.8% of displayed top 25
122
25
Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
1.8% of displayed top 25
122