Volkswagen Passat common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Volkswagen Passat at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 205,896 UK MOT tests of the Volkswagen Passat in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak): recorded on 6% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km), 7.5× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (6.4×); shock absorbers (light misting of oil) (4.7×); linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (5.4×). The most common reasons a Volkswagen Passat fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Volkswagen Passat
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Volkswagen Passat than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6% | 0.8% | 7.5× | 9,054 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.2% | 0.5% | 6.4× | 7,466 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 5.2% | 1.1% | 4.7× | 5,210 |
| Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2002–2004 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 8.7% | 1.6% | 5.4× | 1,384 |
| Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated | Advisory | 2001–2003 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 9.9% | 2.1% | 4.7× | 513 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 17% | 5.6% | 3× | 5,210 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2012–2014 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.8% | 1.3% | 2.9× | 5,653 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2012–2014 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 16% | 6.1% | 2.7× | 7,619 |
Volkswagen Passat by mileage (2009–2011 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 979 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (16%) | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened (5.2%, 3.1×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 2,480 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened (6%, 3.3×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 4,874 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened (5.4%, 2.7×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 7,212 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (18%, 2.1×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 8,115 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (19%, 2×) |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 7,202 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (19%, 1.8×) |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 12,288 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (22%, 1.9×) |
Volkswagen Passat by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 353 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.3×) |
| 1999 | 501 | Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.4×) |
| 2000 | 606 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (3.7×) |
| 2001 | 1,303 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (4×) |
| 2002 | 2,239 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (5.1×) |
| 2003 | 3,465 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (5.7×) |
| 2004 | 4,133 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (5.4×) |
| 2005 | 5,210 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.4×) |
| 2006 | 7,275 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3×) |
| 2007 | 10,476 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (2.8×) |
| 2008 | 11,570 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (2×) |
| 2009 | 13,119 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (2.7×) |
| 2010 | 12,589 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.3×) |
| 2011 | 17,717 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.1×) |
| 2012 | 14,983 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.3×) |
| 2013 | 12,815 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (5.7×) |
| 2014 | 15,555 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6.4×) |
| 2015 | 16,316 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (5×) |
| 2016 | 15,608 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (7.5×) |
| 2017 | 14,312 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (7.1×) |
| 2018 | 11,248 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (8×) |
| 2019 | 7,815 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (7.7×) |
| 2020 | 6,055 | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (11×) |
| 2021 | 222 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.5×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Volkswagen Passat?
In 205,896 UK MOT tests of the Volkswagen Passat in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak): recorded on 6% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km), 7.5× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (6.4×); shock absorbers (light misting of oil) (4.7×); linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (5.4×). The most common reasons a Volkswagen Passat fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak).
Why do Volkswagen Passats fail the MOT?
Across 205,896 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Volkswagen Passat were coil spring (fractured or broken) (5.6% of tests); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (3.3% of tests); shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak) (4.6% of tests).
At what mileage do Volkswagen Passat problems start?
The clearest Volkswagen Passat-specific issue, shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak), peaks against other cars at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) on 2015–2017 cars (6% of tests vs 0.8% for all cars that age).
Where does this Volkswagen Passat data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 205,896 tests of the Volkswagen Passat. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.