Volkswagen Phaeton
From 1,543 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 a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged and significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 47 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 | 47 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 37 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 29 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 27 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 26 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 17 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 16 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 15 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 11 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 11 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 70.3% of Phaeton failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 4.7% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £99.
Volkswagen Phaeton on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 66 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 66. At this rate, roughly 17 years until none remain. Now at 55.4% of its peak (1,964 in 2014 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 640 | 449 | +0 | -5 | -5 |
| 2025 Q2 | 658 | 436 | +0 | -28 | -28 |
| 2025 Q1 | 681 | 441 | +0 | -20 | -20 |
| 2024 Q4 | 720 | 422 | +0 | -13 | -13 |
| 2024 Q3 | 723 | 432 | +0 | -31 | -31 |
| 2024 Q2 | 749 | 437 | +0 | -26 | -26 |
| 2024 Q1 | 790 | 422 | +0 | -27 | -27 |
| 2023 Q4 | 834 | 405 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
4 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phaeton V6 4Mot Tdi Swb A | Diesel | 250 | 50% |
| Phaeton 4Motion Tdi Swb A | Diesel | 124 | 25% |
| Phaeton V6Tdi 4Mn 5Seat A | Diesel | 73 | 15% |
| Phaeton V6 Tdi 4Motion A | Diesel | 51 | 10% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 82.9% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2012 | 85.7% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2011 | 81.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2010 | 82.6% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
4 earlier years
| 2009 | 83.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2008 | 82.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 89.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2006 | 76.7% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Phaetons tested had between 94,730 and 160,244 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 124,668 median miles, the Phaeton has 0.014 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 Phaeton MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Phaeton has a 83.1% MOT pass rate based on 1,543 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Phaeton?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Phaeton is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 47 failures. Other common issues include a tyre cords visible or damaged.
How many Volkswagen Phaetons are on UK roads?
There are 640 Volkswagen Phaetons currently licensed on UK roads, with 449 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Phaeton at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Phaeton is 124,668 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 94,730 and 160,244 miles.
Buying a used Phaeton?
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 83.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £99 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.