Volkswagen Id3 Life: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Id3 Life passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 14 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 7,974 individual Volkswagen Id3 Life tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate90.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+14 points
Tests analysed7,974
Average mileage at test30,172 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank583 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 9 in every 100 Volkswagen Id3 Lifes 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 Id3 Life tested had covered 30,172 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Id3 Life sits 14 points above the national average, ranked 583 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 Id3 Life 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 Id3 Lifes at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Id3 Life

  1. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.8% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.2% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
  4. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.3% of tests
  6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.3% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.3% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.2% of tests
  9. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.2% of tests
  10. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.2% of tests

From 7,959 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Id3 Life tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.93% of these flagged Volkswagen Id3 Life defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen Id3 Life

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 Id3 Life before it actually fails on it.

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 34.1% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.2% of tests, also fails
  3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.7% of tests, also fails
  4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1% of tests, also fails
  5. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.8% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 0.7% of tests
  7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.6% of tests
  8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.3% of tests
  9. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.3% of tests
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.2% of tests

From 7,959 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Id3 Life tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Id3 Life pass rate by model year

From its 2020 to its 2022 model year, the Volkswagen Id3 Life's first-time pass rate has risen 0.3 points, from 92.7% to 93%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Id3 Life year:

Other Volkswagen models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen Id3 Life MOT pass rate badge: 90.7%

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Volkswagen Id3 Life most common MOT failure: A tyre cords visible or damaged (3.8% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate