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Volkswagen CALIFORNIA - 2018

98.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2018 is 123.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen CALIFORNIA, model year 2018. Sample size: 1,245 cars, 2,703 tests and 2,655 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,245 cars

The 2018 Volkswagen California shows a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 98 defects per 100 vehicles compared to 120. This model performs particularly well in categories such as steering, visibility, and lights and electrics, where it significantly underperforms compared to the average. Notably, it has a very low defect rate in steering, at just 0.59%, compared to the average of 4.46%. Mileage-related trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, but the California maintains a competitive performance across the mileage segments. Overall, this model stands out for its reliability in several key areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,245 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
▲ 14.8% better
58.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Warning device shows system malfunction
Steering
▲ 88.0% better
0.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.0 / 100 tests
  • Power steering fluid: level below minimum mark
  • Power steering fluid: level below minimum mark
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
Visibility
▲ 30.2% better
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.9 / 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
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 59.1% better
7.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.6 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Reflector defective or damaged: by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
  • Headlamp cleaning device: inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 11.8% better
111.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 126.7 / 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 tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 17.6% better
4.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Exhaust fumes: entering cabin
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 18.2% better
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.2 / 100 tests
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 64.3% better
2.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 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
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 307 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: 641
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 352
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 254
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 252
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 227
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 67
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 62
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 55
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 51

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 67
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 55
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Warning device shows system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 12