Volkswagen Amarok
From 46,011 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Amaroks fare better: 2020 models pass at 89.3% vs 72.2% for 2011.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 858 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 858 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 772 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 685 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 582 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 554 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 543 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 508 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 454 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 439 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 436 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.1% of Amarok failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 48.4% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £169.
The warranty question
A 3-year-old Amarok passes its MOT 89.3% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 81.7%, a 7.6 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 79.2%. With an average repair bill of £169 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Amarok that's past its third birthday.
Volkswagen Amarok on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 3,899 newly registered in the past year with 1,196 leaving, a net gain of 2,703. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 27,035 | 902 | +272 | -306 | -34 |
| 2025 Q2 | 27,094 | 877 | +427 | -287 | +140 |
| 2025 Q1 | 26,957 | 874 | +1,388 | -370 | +1,018 |
| 2024 Q4 | 26,092 | 721 | +1,812 | -233 | +1,579 |
| 2024 Q3 | 24,585 | 649 | +1,201 | -339 | +862 |
| 2024 Q2 | 23,785 | 587 | +282 | -145 | +137 |
| 2024 Q1 | 23,676 | 559 | +515 | -218 | +297 |
| 2023 Q4 | 23,425 | 513 | +1,384 | -264 | +1,120 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarok Highline V6 Tdi 4Mot A | Diesel | 6,854 | 26% |
| Amarok Highline 4Motion Dc A | Diesel | 5,769 | 22% |
| Amarok Style Tdi 4Motion Auto | Diesel | 3,428 | 13% |
| Amarok Panamericana V6Tdi 4M A | Diesel | 1,651 | 6% |
| Amarok Style V6 Tdi 4Motion A | Diesel | 1,567 | 6% |
| Amarok Highline Tdi 4Motion Dc | Diesel | 1,195 | 5% |
| Amarok Highline 4Motion Dc | Diesel | 771 | 3% |
| Amarok Trendline Tdi4Motion Dc | Diesel | 727 | 3% |
| Amarok Life Tdi 4Motion Auto | Diesel | 694 | 3% |
| Amarok Aventura V6 Tdi 4M A | Diesel | 426 | 2% |
| Amarok Trendline 4Motion Dc | Diesel | 399 | 2% |
| Amarok Ultimate Tdi 4Motion A | Diesel | 350 | 1% |
| Amarok Trendline V6 Tdi 4Mot A | Diesel | 336 | 1% |
| Amarok Black Ed V6 Tdi 4Mot A | Diesel | 310 | 1% |
| Amarok Avent Blk Ed V6Tdi 4M A | Diesel | 289 | 1% |
| Amarok Atacama Tdi 4Motion A | Diesel | 280 | 1% |
| Amarok Startline Tdi4Motion Dc | Diesel | 234 | <1% |
| Amarok Aventura V6 Tdi 4M Auto | Diesel | 219 | <1% |
| Amarok Canyon Tdi 4Motion Auto | Diesel | 207 | <1% |
| Amarok Life Tdi 4Motion | Diesel | 196 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89.3% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2019 | 88.1% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2018 | 86.8% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2017 | 83.1% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
6 earlier years
| 2016 | 81.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2015 | 80.2% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2014 | 79.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2013 | 79.2% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 73.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2011 | 72.2% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
Typical mileage
Half of all Amaroks tested had between 76,068 and 138,961 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 102,549 median miles, the Amarok has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volkswagen models
| Volkswagen Golf | 79.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 84.6% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 76.9% |
Common questions
What is the Volkswagen Amarok MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Amarok has a 82.4% MOT pass rate based on 46,011 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Amarok?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Amarok is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 858 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Volkswagen Amaroks are on UK roads?
There are 27,035 Volkswagen Amaroks currently licensed on UK roads, with 902 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Amarok at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Amarok is 102,549 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,068 and 138,961 miles.
Buying a used Amarok?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 82.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £169 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 44.1% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.