Volkswagen Id4 Life: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Id4 Life passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 17.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,196 individual Volkswagen Id4 Life tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate94.1%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+17.4 points
Tests analysed3,196
Average mileage at test41,998 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank118 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 94.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 6 in every 100 Volkswagen Id4 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 Id4 Life tested had covered 41,998 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 Id4 Life sits 17.4 points above the national average, ranked 118 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 Id4 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 Id4 Lifes at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Id4 Life

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.5% of tests
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.5% of tests
  4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.4% of tests
  5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.3% of tests
  6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.3% of tests
  7. Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes, 0.3% of tests (2.36x the national rate for this defect)
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.2% of tests
  9. Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended, 0.1% of tests
  10. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.1% of tests

From 3,190 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Id4 Life tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.32% of these flagged Volkswagen Id4 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 Id4 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 Id4 Life before it actually fails on it.

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 21.7% of tests, also fails
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests, also fails
  3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.2% of tests, also fails
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.9% of tests, also fails
  5. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.3% of tests
  6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.3% of tests
  7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.2% of tests
  8. An obstruction significantly affecting the driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen or an obligatory external mirror not visible, 0.2% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this advisory)
  9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 0.2% of tests
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.1% of tests

From 3,190 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Id4 Life tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Id4 Life pass rate by model year

From its 2021 to its 2023 model year, the Volkswagen Id4 Life's first-time pass rate has risen 4.6 points, from 92.9% to 97.5%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Id4 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 Id4 Life MOT pass rate badge: 94.1%

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Volkswagen Id4 Life most common MOT failure: Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (2.7% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate