2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate and common faults

11,082 MOT tests in 2024. 62.5% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time62.5%
Failed or needed repairs37.5%
Typical mileage at test139,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,082 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.8%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.9%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed4.7%
    742 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.6%
    813 marked dangerous
  5. Side repeaters: not working3.5%
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.3%
  7. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.1%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%
    362 marked dangerous
  9. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened2.3%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension21.9%
  2. Lights & electrics17.0%
  3. Tyres13.1%
  4. Brakes9.7%
  5. Emissions & leaks6.7%
  6. Body & chassis4.0%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.7%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn21.2%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.0%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2010 Volkswagen Passat?

In 2024, 62.5% of 2010 Volkswagen Passat cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,082 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2010 Volkswagen Passat reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).