MOT performance

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 460,802 MOT tests of the Volkswagen Tiguan in 2023–2024, 82.2% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Volkswagen Tiguans failed 21% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm”, on 2.56% of tests.

460,802 MOT tests on 239,336 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	82.2%	±0.1 pts (95%), n = 460,802
Failures vs similar cars	0.79×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	5.9%	n = 460,802
Average age at test	6.5 years	n = 460,802
Median mileage at test	54,078 miles	n = 460,802
Vehicles tested	239,336	2023–2024

Where Volkswagen Tiguans fail

The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Suspension	6.2%	+10%
Tyres	5.7%	-9%
Lights, reflectors and electrical	3.4%	-54%
Brakes	3.2%	-36%
Driver's view of the road	2.0%	-47%
Noise, emissions and leaks	1.8%	-6%
Body, chassis and structure	0.9%	-54%
Seat belts and airbags	0.6%	-1%
Steering	0.3%	-77%
Registration plates and VIN	0.2%	-21%
Road wheels	0.2%	-46%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.0%	-77%

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate by fuel: diesel vs petrol

Raw pass rates partly reflect how old each fuel's cars are; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Fuels that differ materially from the model as a whole have their own page.

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT results by fuel
Fuel	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Diesel	353,120	7.3 yrs	80.3%	-21%
Petrol	107,347	4 yrs	88.4%	-25%

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate by generation

Generations by first-registration date against 73 Auto's catalogue (cars registered within three months of a changeover left out).

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT results by generation
Generation	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Mk1 (2008–2016)	163,417	10.3 yrs	72.5%	-17%
Mk2 (2016–2024)	279,850	4.3 yrs	87.9%	-27%

Most common failure items

Most common Volkswagen Tiguan MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	2.56%
Coil spring: fractured or broken	Suspension	2.27%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	2.08%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	1.61%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	1.35%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	Driver's view of the road	1.22%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	1.18%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	1.04%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak	Suspension	0.61%
Headlamp aim: too low	Lights, reflectors and electrical	0.59%

Most common advisories

Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.

Most common Volkswagen Tiguan MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	16.03%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	12.68%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	9.61%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	8.35%
Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	Tyres	7.52%

Pass rate by age

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	118,996	88.6%	-22%
5-6	104,547	86.7%	-30%
7-8	76,512	82.2%	-27%
9-10	55,253	74.6%	-18%
11-12	32,000	68.6%	-15%
13-15	33,148	62.9%	-12%
16+	2,000	63.4%	-17%

Pass rate by registration year

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2022	535	92.2%	0.65×
2021	25,094	89.0%	0.85×
2020	50,082	88.6%	0.84×
2019	72,637	88.5%	0.76×
2018	59,394	87.3%	0.73×
2017	53,048	86.7%	0.66×
2016	37,328	84.8%	0.67×
2015	40,023	79.8%	0.79×
2014	30,894	75.9%	0.83×
2013	24,741	74.1%	0.80×
2012	18,231	69.8%	0.84×
2011	13,799	66.0%	0.87×
2010	13,570	63.7%	0.89×
2009	12,615	63.1%	0.87×
2008	8,780	61.9%	0.88×

Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.

Compared with similar models

What a Volkswagen Tiguan costs to own

73 Auto's worked ownership-cost examples for this model:

Volkswagen Tiguan 2017

Check a specific Volkswagen Tiguan

Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.

UK number plate or 17-character VIN

About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.