Volkswagen up!: what fails at MOT
167,000 MOT tests on the Volkswagen up! in 2024, counted. 19.5% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
19.5% of Volkswagen up! tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 23.6%, so the up! does better than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (4.8% of tests), brakes (3.7% of tests) and tyres (3% of tests).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,367 | 9.8% | 10.9% | 14,200 8,700 to 21,200 |
| 2020 | 4,532 | 8.3% | 11.5% | 18,100 11,300 to 26,100 |
| 2019 | 11,690 | 9.9% | 13.4% | 23,300 14,800 to 33,700 |
| 2018 | 17,475 | 14.7% | 15.6% | 28,700 18,500 to 41,200 |
| 2017 | 17,599 | 17.0% | 18.2% | 35,300 23,200 to 48,800 |
| 2016 | 16,638 | 22.4% | 21.3% | 39,400 25,700 to 54,600 |
| 2015 | 20,919 | 22.2% | 24.4% | 45,700 31,100 to 62,400 |
| 2014 | 27,628 | 21.6% | 27.7% | 51,700 35,300 to 70,000 |
| 2013 | 27,818 | 22.0% | 30.6% | 57,400 40,200 to 76,800 |
| 2012 | 18,336 | 25.2% | 33.4% | 64,900 46,000 to 85,300 |
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 up! tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | up! | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 4.8% | 5.8% | |
| Brakes | 3.7% | 3.6% | |
| Tyres | 3.0% | 4.2% | Less than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 2.7% | 2.6% | |
| Suspension | 2.1% | 4.7% | Less than most |
| Body and structure | 1.5% | 1.5% | |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.3% | 1.5% | |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.3% | 0.4% |
The parts that fail most
- Seat belt2.0%
- Footbrake1.9%
- Headlamp aim1.8%
- Wipers1.5%
- Washers1.1%
- Tyre tread1.0%
- Exhaust emissions1.0%
- Suspension pins and bushes1.0%
- Side light1.0%
- Number plate light0.9%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
- Footbrake: excessively binding1.4%
- Headlamp aim: too low1.1%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.0%
- Side light: not working0.9%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn0.9%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.8%
- Fuel cap/sealing device: ineffective0.8%
- Exhaust emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.7%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.7%
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: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.1%
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.9%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.4%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.5%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively2.5%
- Brake pads: wearing thin2.4%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively1.7%
- Play in steering rack inner joint(s)1.3%
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
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “How much tread is left on each tyre, and how old are they?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
Check a Volkswagen up!'s own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll 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.