Volkswagen California: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen California passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 5.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 8,472 individual Volkswagen California tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate82.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+5.9 points
Tests analysed8,472
Average mileage at test56,184 miles
Average year of manufacture2015
Reliability rank1,354 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 Volkswagen Californias 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 California tested had covered 56,184 miles and was built around 2015.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen California sits 5.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,354 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 California 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 Californias at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen California

  1. Warning device shows system malfunction, 2.1% of tests (5.05x the national rate for this defect)
  2. ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction, 0.7% of tests (3.33x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.9% of tests (1.72x the national rate for this defect)
  4. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.6% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.7% of tests
  6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.9% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.9% of tests
  8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.3% of tests
  9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.2% of tests
  10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.9% of tests

From 8,463 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen California tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.4% of these flagged Volkswagen California defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen California

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 California before it actually fails on it.

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 23.4% of tests, also fails
  2. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.7% of tests
  3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 11.1% of tests, also fails
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.2% of tests, also fails
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.6% of tests, also fails
  6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.4% of tests, also fails
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.4% of tests
  8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 2.1% of tests
  9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.8% of tests
  10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.7% of tests

From 8,463 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen California tests, 2024.

Volkswagen California pass rate by model year

From its 2010 to its 2019 model year, the Volkswagen California's first-time pass rate has risen 12.5 points, from 76.1% to 88.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen California year:

Other Volkswagen models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen California MOT pass rate badge: 82.6%

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Volkswagen California most common MOT failure: Warning device shows system malfunction (2.1% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate