Volkswagen Fox
From 46,972 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Foxs fare better: 2012 models pass at 70.9% vs 65.4% for 2006.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 3,140 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 3,140 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,279 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,875 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,827 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 1,710 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,647 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 1,501 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,451 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,419 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 1,223 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 26.4% of Fox failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 12.6% 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 £111.
Volkswagen Fox on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,131 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 1,130. At this rate, roughly 10.3 years until none remain. Now at 63.1% of its peak (18,469 in 2012 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 10,570 | 1,087 | +0 | -342 | -342 |
| 2025 Q2 | 10,953 | 1,046 | +0 | -272 | -272 |
| 2025 Q1 | 11,266 | 1,005 | +0 | -231 | -231 |
| 2024 Q4 | 11,551 | 951 | +1 | -286 | -285 |
| 2024 Q3 | 11,865 | 922 | +0 | -244 | -244 |
| 2024 Q2 | 12,138 | 893 | +1 | -278 | -277 |
| 2024 Q1 | 12,439 | 869 | +0 | -273 | -273 |
| 2023 Q4 | 12,716 | 865 | +0 | -218 | -218 |
4 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox 55 | Gas | 7,826 | 74% |
| Urban Fox | Petrol | 1,124 | 11% |
| Fox | Petrol | 823 | 8% |
| Fox 75 | Petrol | 797 | 8% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 70.9% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2011 | 67.1% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2010 | 64.3% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 64.8% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
3 earlier years
| 2008 | 63% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 63.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 65.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Foxs tested had between 56,039 and 94,976 miles on the clock.
At 80,048 median miles, the Fox has 0.044 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 Fox MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Fox has a 64.4% MOT pass rate based on 46,972 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Fox?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Fox is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 3,140 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Volkswagen Foxs are on UK roads?
There are 10,570 Volkswagen Foxs currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,087 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Fox at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Fox is 80,048 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 56,039 and 94,976 miles.
Buying a used Fox?
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 64.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £111 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 26.4% 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.