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Volkswagen BEETLE - 2008

356.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2008 is 340.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen BEETLE, model year 2008. Sample size: 2,485 cars, 6,198 tests and 22,104 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,485 cars

The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle has a slightly higher overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 357 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to 337 defects for the average. Notably, the Beetle performs worse in the categories of steering, visibility, and lights & electrics, with defect rates significantly above the average. In terms of mileage-related trends, the defect rate increases consistently with mileage, particularly in the highest category, where it reaches 554 defects per 100 for cars over 124,000 miles. Overall, while tyre wear is a common issue, the model's standout problems lie in specific areas that may impact safety and functionality.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,485 cars

More model years for Volkswagen BEETLE

1970 1971 1972 1973 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 3.5% better
128.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 133.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▼ 143.9% worse
43.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.0 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▼ 34.4% worse
34.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 24.5% worse
114.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 92.2 / 100 tests
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 6.2% better
291.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 310.3 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 11.9% better
45.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.3 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 9.9% worse
11.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 10.1 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 8.3% worse
44.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.2 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 554 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,636
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,488
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,395
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,356
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,310
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 563
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 561
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 507
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 481
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 473

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 481
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 445
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 384
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 374
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 308
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 298
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 273
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 246
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 214
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 191