2017 · 7 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2017 Volkswagen Beetle MOT pass rate and common faults

1,451 MOT tests in 2024. 74.3% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

93Below average
Passed first time74.3%
Failed or needed repairs25.7%
Typical mileage at test39,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,451 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rear fog lamp: not working6.1%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.7%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.5%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.2%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%
    31 marked dangerous
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.3%
    24 marked dangerous
  7. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.2%
    26 marked dangerous
  8. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.0%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.9%
  10. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.9%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension9.6%
  2. Lights & electrics8.6%
  3. Brakes6.6%
  4. Tyres5.4%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.8%
  7. Steering0.3%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure17.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.1%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rear fog lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle?

In 2024, 74.3% of 2017 Volkswagen Beetle cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,451 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle?

The most common failure reasons were rear fog lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 93, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).