Volkswagen Passat Se Tdi S-A
From 377 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 8 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.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 8 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 8 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 6 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 5 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 5 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 5 |
| brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 4 |
| excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. | 3 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 2 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 2 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 16.7% of Passat Se Tdi S-A failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 52.1% 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 £126.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 80% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
Typical mileage
Half of all Passat Se Tdi S-As tested had between 30,893 and 65,494 miles on the clock.
At 44,860 median miles, the Passat Se Tdi S-A has 0.029 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 Passat Se Tdi S-A MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Passat Se Tdi S-A has a 87% MOT pass rate based on 377 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Passat Se Tdi S-A?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Passat Se Tdi S-A is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 8 failures. Other common issues include a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Passat Se Tdi S-A at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Passat Se Tdi S-A is 44,860 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 30,893 and 65,494 miles.
Buying a used Passat Se Tdi S-A?
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.
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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.