Petrol Volkswagen Passat: MOT pass rate

78.8% of petrol Volkswagen Passats pass the MOT first time, measured across 11,752 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 87,141.

Petrol against the other Volkswagen Passat versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volkswagen Passat specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 87.4%, and this petrol version sits 3.6 points above the 75.2% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Volkswagen Passat is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. 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 petrol Volkswagen Passat had covered 87,141 miles at test, against 129,307 for the diesel and 68,987 for the hybrid. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

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 petrol Volkswagen Passat

1. A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly, 1.1% of tests (6x the national rate for this defect)
2. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.3% of tests (2.14x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.4% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
4. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.8% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.1% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.2% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.7% of tests
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.2% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.8% of tests

From 11,850 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Passat tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Passat's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.26% 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 petrol Volkswagen Passat

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

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3% of tests (2.68x the national rate for this defect)
2. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 5% of tests (1.9x 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, 7% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.8% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.6% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 20.4% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 18.3% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 6.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29% of tests, also fails
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 15.1% of tests, also fails

From 11,850 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Passat tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Passat fuel types

• Diesel Volkswagen Passat - 74.5%
• Hybrid Volkswagen Passat - 87.4%

All Volkswagen Passat MOT data · Every model