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Volkswagen BEETLE - 2016

137.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen BEETLE, model year 2016. Sample size: 2,472 cars, 5,850 tests and 8,037 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,472 cars

The 2016 Volkswagen Beetle has a lower overall defect rate of 137 per 100 vehicles, which is 9% better than the average for cars of the same year, at 151 per 100. The model shows particularly strong performance in categories such as brakes, steering, body/structure, and equipment, all of which have significantly fewer defects compared to their averages. However, as mileage increases, defect rates rise substantially, particularly in the higher mileage segments. Overall, the Beetle demonstrates a solid reliability profile, especially in critical safety-related areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,472 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

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 31.3% better
53.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 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 lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 77.8% better
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • EPS MIL indicating a system malfunction
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 6.7% better
14.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 20.9% better
20.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • 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
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 6.9% worse
170.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 78.0% better
2.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
Equipment
▲ 45.5% better
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 2.7% better
11.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 340 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: 1,269
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,187
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 655
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 561
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 497
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 434
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 339
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 290
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 225
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 190

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 434
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 290
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 190
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 114
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 101
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 94
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 75
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 72
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 46
Warning device shows system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 36