Volkswagen Jetta
From 22,175 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Jettas fare better: 2017 models pass at 77.5% vs 69.2% for 2006.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,167 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.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,167 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 790 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 738 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 610 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 569 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 528 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 384 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 333 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 325 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 315 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.9% of Jetta failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 43.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £129.
Volkswagen Jetta on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,665 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 17 newly registered, a net loss of 1,648. At this rate, roughly 8.2 years until none remain. Now at 25% of its peak (53,886 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 10,873 | 2,618 | +5 | -417 | -412 |
| 2025 Q2 | 11,322 | 2,581 | +5 | -434 | -429 |
| 2025 Q1 | 11,756 | 2,576 | +3 | -406 | -403 |
| 2024 Q4 | 12,205 | 2,530 | +4 | -408 | -404 |
| 2024 Q3 | 12,649 | 2,490 | +10 | -483 | -473 |
| 2024 Q2 | 13,143 | 2,469 | +5 | -439 | -434 |
| 2024 Q1 | 13,576 | 2,470 | +9 | -483 | -474 |
| 2023 Q4 | 14,088 | 2,432 | +7 | -346 | -339 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta Se Bluemotion Tech Tdi | Diesel | 1,363 | 15% |
| Jetta Se Tdi | Diesel | 871 | 10% |
| Jetta Sport Tdi | Diesel | 868 | 10% |
| Jetta Se Tdi 140 | Diesel | 631 | 7% |
| Jetta Se Bluemotion Tech Tdisa | Diesel | 625 | 7% |
| Jetta Se Tdi 105 | Diesel | 611 | 7% |
| Jetta Se Tdi S-A | Diesel | 519 | 6% |
| Jetta S Bluemotion Tech-Gy Tdi | Diesel | 484 | 5% |
| Jetta S Tdi | Diesel | 407 | 4% |
| Jetta Gt Bluemotion Tech Tdi | Diesel | 374 | 4% |
| Jetta Se Tdi 105 Auto | Diesel | 373 | 4% |
| Jetta Sport Tdi S-A | Diesel | 293 | 3% |
| Jetta Se Tdi 140 Auto | Diesel | 257 | 3% |
| Jetta Se Bluemotion Tech Tsi | Petrol | 249 | 3% |
| Jetta Gt B-Motion Tech Tdi S-A | Diesel | 224 | 2% |
| Jetta Sport Dsg Tdi A | Diesel | 218 | 2% |
| Jetta S Bluemotion Tech Tdi Sa | Diesel | 205 | 2% |
| Jetta Ltd Edition Tdi Bmt | Diesel | 203 | 2% |
| Jetta Se Fsi | Petrol | 187 | 2% |
| Jetta | Diesel | 174 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 77.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2016 | 80.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 77.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2014 | 73.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
11 earlier years
| 2013 | 75.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2012 | 75% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 73.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 73.6% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 72.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 67.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 68.6% | 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 | 69.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1991 | 81.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1990 | 79.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1989 | 69.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a wheel bearing with excessive play |
Typical mileage
Half of all Jettas tested had between 91,650 and 136,560 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 104,548 median miles, the Jetta has 0.026 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 Jetta MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Jetta has a 72.6% MOT pass rate based on 22,175 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Jetta?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Jetta is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,167 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Volkswagen Jettas are on UK roads?
There are 10,873 Volkswagen Jettas currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,618 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Jetta at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Jetta is 104,548 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 91,650 and 136,560 miles.
Buying a used Jetta?
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 72.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £129 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.