Volkswagen Phaeton: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Phaeton passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 2.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 850 individual Volkswagen Phaeton tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 21 in every 100 Volkswagen Phaetons 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 Phaeton tested had covered 114,189 miles and was built around 2009.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Phaeton sits 2.1 points above the national average, ranked 1,488 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 Phaeton 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 Phaetons at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Phaeton

1. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.3% of tests (3.18x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.4% of tests (2.62x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.9% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.1% of tests
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.7% of tests
6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.9% of tests
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.6% of tests
8. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.6% of tests (2.52x the national rate for this defect)
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.6% of tests
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests

From 849 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Phaeton tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.24% of these flagged Volkswagen Phaeton defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen Phaeton

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 Phaeton before it actually fails on it.

1. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.2% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 27.6% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.5% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.1% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.9% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 15.3% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.9% of tests, also fails
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6.4% of tests
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 6.1% of tests
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 2.9% of tests

From 849 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Phaeton tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen models

• Volkswagen Golf - 77.1%
• Volkswagen Polo - 71.4%
• Volkswagen Transporter - 70.8%
• Volkswagen Tiguan - 82.4%
• Volkswagen Passat - 74.7%
• Volkswagen Caddy - 73.5%
• Volkswagen Up - 84.4%
• Volkswagen Touran - 72.7%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Audi Tt - 78.8%
• Ford Transit Courier - 78.8%
• Honda Stepwagon - 78.8%
• Maserati Coupe - 78.8%
• Honda Jazz - 78.7%
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 78.7%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Volkswagen Phaeton? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

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Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Volkswagen Phaeton's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate