Volkswagen Passat reliability and MOT data

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Volkswagen

Model: Passat

Model reliability rank
51
MOT-based rank from 1,271,233 selected-period tests.
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Overall MOT pass rate
76.7%
Share of this model's 1,271,233 selected-period MOT tests that pass.
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Efficiency, emissions & tax
Average MPG
120.9 mpg
CO2 emission
117 g/km
Euro emissions
Euro 6
Tax cost
£175/yr
Average vehicle miles
140,634
Solid average mileage for this model.
Life expectancy miles
149,481
Healthy mature-fleet mileage expectation.
Average vehicle age
13.3
Comfortable mid-life age pattern.
Market share
0.37%
0.37% share within the active represented vehicle pool.
Vehicles represented
156,215
156,213 valid MOT, 2 under 3 years.
Tests analysed
1,271,233
1,271,233 MOT tests in the selected period.
Rarity ranking
Based on Make & Model
Common
156,215On the road
Insight summary

Volkswagen Passat is a common model in this snapshot, with 156,215 represented vehicles and 0.37% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 76.7% from 1,271,233 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 51. The current pool shows an average of 140,634 miles and an average age of 13.3 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 149,481 miles. Diesel leads the fuel split, followed by petrol, and the most frequent defect themes are windscreen damage, engine warning light and driveshaft boots. The practical read is that the Volkswagen Passat looks like a solid used-car baseline rather than a rare find, with age, mileage and common wear items doing most of the explaining.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)
FuelVehicles
DIESEL139,975
PETROL10,325
HYBRID ELECTRIC (CLEAN)5,908
LPG3
GAS BI-FUEL2
ELECTRIC1
OTHER1
DIESEL89.6%139,975 vehicles
Euro NCAP Safety
NCAP rating
5 / 5
Adult
93%
Children
87%
Pedestrian
82%
Safety systems
80%
Top 25 most common defects (by model)
DefectCount
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))28,306
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))16,407
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))15,997
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))13,639
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))13,462
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))12,253
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))10,849
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))10,755
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))10,447
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))9,662
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))9,532
Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))9,328
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))8,922
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))8,136
Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))7,946
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))7,503
Nearside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))7,461
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))7,060
Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))6,871
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))6,858
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))6,703
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))6,462
Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))6,298
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))6,276
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))6,102
All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 253,235 defects across this top 25 set
01
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
11.2% of displayed top 25
28,306
02
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))
6.5% of displayed top 25
16,407
03
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
6.3% of displayed top 25
15,997
04
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
5.4% of displayed top 25
13,639
05
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))
5.3% of displayed top 25
13,462
06
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
4.8% of displayed top 25
12,253
07
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
4.3% of displayed top 25
10,849
08
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
4.2% of displayed top 25
10,755
09
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
4.1% of displayed top 25
10,447
10
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
3.8% of displayed top 25
9,662
11
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
3.8% of displayed top 25
9,532
12
Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
3.7% of displayed top 25
9,328
13
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
3.5% of displayed top 25
8,922
14
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
3.2% of displayed top 25
8,136
15
Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
3.1% of displayed top 25
7,946
16
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))
3.0% of displayed top 25
7,503
17
Nearside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
2.9% of displayed top 25
7,461
18
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
2.8% of displayed top 25
7,060
19
Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
2.7% of displayed top 25
6,871
20
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.7% of displayed top 25
6,858
21
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
2.6% of displayed top 25
6,703
22
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.6% of displayed top 25
6,462
23
Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
2.5% of displayed top 25
6,298
24
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
2.5% of displayed top 25
6,276
25
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))
2.4% of displayed top 25
6,102