Diesel Volkswagen Passat: MOT pass rate

74.5% of diesel Volkswagen Passats pass the MOT first time, measured across 165,249 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 129,307.

Diesel against the other Volkswagen Passat versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Volkswagen Passat specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 87.4%, and this diesel version sits 0.7 points below the 75.2% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Volkswagen Passat had covered 129,307 miles at test, against 87,141 for the petrol and 68,987 for the hybrid. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volkswagen Passat page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volkswagen Passat

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 1.1% of tests (3.29x the national rate for this defect)
2. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 1.2% of tests (2.89x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.5% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this defect)
4. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.5% of tests (2.35x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.9% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect)
6. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.3% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4% of tests (1.76x the national rate for this defect)
8. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.6% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 5% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.9% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)

From 166,112 DVSA-tracked diesel Volkswagen Passat tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Passat's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.71% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Volkswagen Passat

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 30.6% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 11.7% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 8.8% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.5% of tests (1.7x the national rate for this defect)
5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 39.4% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 17.9% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.7% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 1.6% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.7% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.7% of tests

From 166,112 DVSA-tracked diesel Volkswagen Passat tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Passat fuel types

• Petrol Volkswagen Passat - 78.8%
• Hybrid Volkswagen Passat - 87.4%

All Volkswagen Passat MOT data · Every model