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Volkswagen BEETLE - 2017

126.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2017 is 137.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen BEETLE, model year 2017. Sample size: 1,660 cars, 3,906 tests and 4,954 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,660 cars

The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle has an overall defect rate of 127 per 100 vehicles, which is 5.2% better than the average car of the same year. This model shows higher defect rates in the lower mileage segments, particularly in the 0–31,000 miles and 31,000–62,000 miles ranges, while it performs better in categories such as brakes, steering, and body structure compared to the yearly averages. Notably, the Beetle has significantly fewer issues with brakes and steering, with defects in these areas being much lower than the average. Overall, the Beetle stands out positively for its reliability in crucial systems while maintaining a slightly lower overall defect rate compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,660 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 25.1% better
54.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 72.5 / 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
▲ 94.6% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.6 / 100 tests
  • EPS MIL indicating a system malfunction
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 6.2% better
13.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 13.7% better
17.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • 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
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 8.8% worse
155.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 143.1 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 87.1% better
0.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
  • Body or cab mounting: fixings missing or insecure such that overall security is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 37.0% better
1.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
Other
▼ 7.8% worse
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.0 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 350 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)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 992
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 745
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 388
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 373
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 346
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 261
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: 190
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 105
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 95

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 261
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: 190
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 87
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 70
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 52
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 28