Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,858 individual Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate89.8%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+13.1 points
Tests analysed1,858
Average mileage at test59,278 miles
Average year of manufacture2020
Reliability rank730 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 89.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-As 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 Passat Sel Tdi S-A tested had covered 59,278 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A bought as a 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 Passat Sel Tdi S-A 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 what damaged Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-As actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.6% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.6% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.3% of tests
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.7% of tests
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
  6. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.7% of tests
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  8. A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, 0.2% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
  9. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.2% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.2% of tests

From 2,825 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 7.04% of these flagged Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A year:

Other Volkswagen models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen Passat Sel Tdi S-A MOT pass rate badge: 89.8%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate