Volkswagen Up Gti: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Up Gti passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,647 individual Volkswagen Up Gti tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.8 points
Tests analysed1,647
Average mileage at test19,158 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank927 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 Volkswagen Up Gtis 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 Up Gti tested had covered 19,158 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 Up Gti sits 11.8 points above the national average, ranked 927 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 Up Gti 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 Up Gtis at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Up Gti

  1. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 1% of tests (5.02x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.8% of tests (3.13x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.5% of tests
  4. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.4% of tests
  5. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 0.3% of tests
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 0.2% of tests
  7. A tyre not fitted in compliance with the manufacturers sidewall instruction, 0.2% of tests (3.83x the national rate for this defect)
  8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.2% of tests
  9. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 0.2% of tests
  10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 0.2% of tests

From 1,644 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Up Gti tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 15.11% of these flagged Volkswagen Up Gti defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen Up Gti

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 Up Gti before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 2.1% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 20.7% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 6.2% of tests
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 3.4% of tests, also fails
  5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.1% of tests
  6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.5% of tests
  7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.3% of tests
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.2% of tests
  9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 0.2% of tests, also fails
  10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.2% of tests

From 1,644 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Up Gti tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Up Gti pass rate by model year

From its 2020 to its 2021 model year, the Volkswagen Up Gti's first-time pass rate has risen 0.2 points, from 88.2% to 88.4%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Up Gti year:

Other Volkswagen models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen Up Gti MOT pass rate badge: 88.5%

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Volkswagen Up Gti most common MOT failure: A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber (1% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/volkswagen-up-gti"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/volkswagen-up-gti.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Volkswagen Up Gti most common MOT failure: A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber (1% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate