Volkswagen Fox: what fails at MOT
35,000 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Fox in 2024, counted. 47.9% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
47.9% of Volkswagen Fox tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 40%, so the Fox does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (16.4% of tests), suspension (15% of tests) and wipers, washers and windscreen (9.6% of tests). It fails on suspension, wipers, washers and windscreen and body and structure more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3,201 | 42.7% | 36.1% | 68,800 50,200 to 89,100 |
| 2010 | 9,735 | 47.9% | 38.6% | 75,300 54,000 to 97,100 |
| 2009 | 6,192 | 47.7% | 39.8% | 75,300 53,400 to 97,700 |
| 2008 | 5,616 | 50.6% | 41.5% | 84,200 62,600 to 106,100 |
| 2007 | 6,321 | 49.8% | 41.5% | 85,000 62,800 to 106,100 |
| 2006 | 3,557 | 45.3% | 42.4% | 87,300 64,700 to 109,500 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Volkswagen Fox tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Fox | Cars its age |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 16.4% | 13.0% |
| Suspension More than most | 15.0% | 11.0% |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen More than most | 9.6% | 4.3% |
| Body and structure More than most | 8.6% | 4.6% |
| Exhaust and emissions More than most | 8.2% | 3.8% |
| Brakes | 7.1% | 7.4% |
| Tyres | 4.7% | 5.0% |
| Steering | 2.7% | 2.3% |
The parts that fail most
- Washers6.0%
- Exhaust emissions5.3%
- Headlamp aim5.2%
- Exhaust system4.3%
- Headlamp4.2%
- Brake light4.1%
- Driveshaft joint4.0%
- Wipers3.9%
- Side light3.9%
- Linkage ball joint dust cover3.5%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases4.0%
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.9%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.8%
- Exhaust emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits3.7%
- Brake light: not working3.7%
- Side light: not working3.6%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid3.6%
- Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.5%
- Coil spring: fractured or broken3.3%
- Ball joint dust cover: no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.2%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13.3%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.9%
- Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases8.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6.3%
- Coil spring: corroded5.8%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil4.0%
- Number plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread3.4%
- Flexible brake hoses: has slight corrosion to ferrule3.1%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Is there any corrosion underneath or around the sills and arches?”
- “Has it ever failed on emissions or an exhaust leak, and what was done about it?”
Check a Volkswagen Fox's own MOT record
Looking at a Fox? Type its registration to see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.