Volkswagen Touareg
From 76,794 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Touaregs fare better: 2021 models pass at 91.8% vs 73.2% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing and or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 3,539 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 spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 3,539 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,388 |
| 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 | 1,216 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 974 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 869 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 715 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 634 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 588 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 541 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 408 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 38% of Touareg failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 27.8% 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 £137.
The warranty question
A new Touareg passes its MOT 93% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 84.3%, a 8.7 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 83.9%. With an average repair bill of £137 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Touareg that's past its third birthday.
Volkswagen Touareg on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 2,149 newly registered in the past year with 1,772 leaving, a net gain of 377. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 39,252 | 4,284 | +602 | -410 | +192 |
| 2025 Q2 | 39,112 | 4,232 | +304 | -390 | -86 |
| 2025 Q1 | 39,325 | 4,105 | +703 | -493 | +210 |
| 2024 Q4 | 39,337 | 3,883 | +540 | -479 | +61 |
| 2024 Q3 | 39,418 | 3,741 | +475 | -413 | +62 |
| 2024 Q2 | 39,463 | 3,634 | +418 | -486 | -68 |
| 2024 Q1 | 39,612 | 3,553 | +341 | -597 | -256 |
| 2023 Q4 | 39,986 | 3,435 | +331 | -326 | +5 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touareg V6 R-Line Tdi Bmt A | Diesel | 10,582 | 29% |
| Touareg V6 Black Edition Tdi A | Diesel | 6,597 | 18% |
| Touareg V6 R-Line + Tdi Bmt A | Diesel | 2,934 | 8% |
| Touareg V6 Se Tdi Blue Tech A | Diesel | 2,514 | 7% |
| Touareg V6 R-Line Tech Tdi A | Diesel | 2,364 | 7% |
| Touareg V6 R-Line Tdi Auto | Diesel | 1,537 | 4% |
| Touareg V6 Altitude Tdi B-T A | Diesel | 1,439 | 4% |
| Touareg Altitude V6 Tdi A | Diesel | 981 | 3% |
| Touareg Alt Tdi V6 225 A | Diesel | 960 | 3% |
| Touareg V6 Sel Tdi Auto | Diesel | 893 | 2% |
| Touareg V6 R Tsi Phev Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 864 | 2% |
| Touareg Se V6Tdi B-Tech A | Diesel | 831 | 2% |
| Touareg V6 Black Edition Tsi A | Petrol | 823 | 2% |
| Touareg Se Tdi V6 225 A | Diesel | 535 | 1% |
| Touareg V6 Escape Tdi Bl-Tec A | Diesel | 475 | 1% |
| Touareg Se Sport Auto | Diesel | 429 | 1% |
| Touareg Se 174 Tdi E4 A | Diesel | 365 | 1% |
| Touareg V6 Tdi Sport A | Diesel | 331 | <1% |
| Touareg V6 R-Line Tech + Tdi A | Diesel | 316 | <1% |
| Touareg Altv6Tdi B-Tech A | Diesel | 303 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 93% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 89.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 89.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
15 earlier years
| 2017 | 82.9% | 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 |
| 2016 | 84.3% | 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 |
| 2015 | 83.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 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 |
| 2014 | 86.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 83.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 82.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 81.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 77.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 75.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 73.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 71.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 73.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2005 | 71.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 73.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 72.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
Typical mileage
Half of all Touaregs tested had between 38,493 and 136,026 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 94,963 median miles, the Touareg has 0.019 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 Touareg MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Touareg has a 82.3% MOT pass rate based on 76,794 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Touareg?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Touareg is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 3,539 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Volkswagen Touaregs are on UK roads?
There are 39,252 Volkswagen Touaregs currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,284 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Touareg at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Touareg is 94,963 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 38,493 and 136,026 miles.
Buying a used Touareg?
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 82.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £137 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 38% 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.