Volkswagen Arteon: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Arteon passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 10.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 7,084 individual Volkswagen Arteon tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.4%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+10.7 points
Tests analysed7,084
Average mileage at test49,186 miles
Average year of manufacture2019
Reliability rank1,065 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 13 in every 100 Volkswagen Arteons presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Volkswagen Arteon tested had covered 49,186 miles and was built around 2019.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Arteon sits 10.7 points above the national average, ranked 1,065 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Volkswagen Arteon rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Volkswagen Arteons at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Arteon

  1. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.4% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.8% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.1% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.8% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.3% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.6% of tests
  7. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.7% of tests
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.5% of tests
  9. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.2% of tests
  10. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.2% of tests

From 7,079 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Arteon tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.23% of these flagged Volkswagen Arteon defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen Arteon

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Volkswagen Arteon before it actually fails on it.

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 8.3% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 23.7% of tests, also fails
  3. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.4% of tests
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.8% of tests, also fails
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.2% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2% of tests, also fails
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.4% of tests
  8. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1% of tests
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.8% of tests
  10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.6% of tests

From 7,079 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Arteon tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Arteon pass rate by model year

From its 2017 to its 2021 model year, the Volkswagen Arteon's first-time pass rate has risen 1 points, from 88% to 89%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Arteon year:

Volkswagen Arteon by fuel type

The Volkswagen Arteon's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.5 points: petrol passes first time 88.6% of the time (4,005 tests) against 87.1% for diesel (3,037 tests).

Other Volkswagen models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen Arteon MOT pass rate badge: 87.4%

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Volkswagen Arteon most common MOT failure: A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber (0.4% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/volkswagen-arteon"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/volkswagen-arteon.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Volkswagen Arteon most common MOT failure: A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber (0.4% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate