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Volkswagen CALIFORNIA - 2012

157.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen CALIFORNIA, model year 2012. Sample size: 622 cars, 1,388 tests and 2,190 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 622 cars

The 2012 Volkswagen California has an overall defect rate of 158 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 246 defects per 100 vehicles, marking a 36% improvement. The model performs exceptionally well in categories such as brakes, steering, and body structure, showing notably fewer defects compared to average figures. While models with higher mileage (over 124,000 miles) tend to show an increase in defects, the California still maintains a lower defect rate than the average across all mileage segments. However, it does have a higher defect rate in equipment issues compared to the average, indicating an area for potential improvement.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 622 cars

More model years for Volkswagen CALIFORNIA

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Volkswagen

Volkswagen AMAROK Volkswagen ARTEON Volkswagen BEETLE Volkswagen BORA Volkswagen CADDY Volkswagen CALIFORNIA Volkswagen CAMPER Volkswagen CARAVELLE Volkswagen CC Volkswagen CORRADO Volkswagen CRAFTER Volkswagen E-GOLF Volkswagen E-UP Volkswagen EOS Volkswagen FOX Volkswagen GOLF Volkswagen GRAND CALIFORNIA Volkswagen HIGH UP Volkswagen ID3 Volkswagen ID4 Volkswagen ID5 Volkswagen JETTA Volkswagen LT Volkswagen LUPO Volkswagen MOTOR CARAVAN Volkswagen MOVE UP Volkswagen PASSAT Volkswagen POLO Volkswagen SCIROCCO Volkswagen SHARAN Volkswagen T-CROSS Volkswagen T-ROC Volkswagen TAIGO Volkswagen TIGUAN Volkswagen TOUAREG Volkswagen TOURAN Volkswagen TRANSPORTER Volkswagen UP

Categories

Brakes
▲ 25.4% better
77.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Warning device shows system malfunction
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 77.3% better
3.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • Power steering component: fouling or misaligned
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▼ 7.8% worse
20.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 53.6% better
28.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • A lens defective: which has no effect on emitted light
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 34.5% better
160.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 55.0% better
11.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A door hinge, catch or pillar: excessively deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 46.8% worse
9.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Audible warning:
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • An airbag obviously inoperative
Other
▲ 79.7% better
4.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer missing, obviously modified or obviously defective

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 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: 338
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 201
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 163
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 113
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 108
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 95
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 88
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 67
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 47

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 46
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 35
Warning device shows system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17