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Volkswagen CALIFORNIA - 2021

53.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen CALIFORNIA, model year 2021. Sample size: 1,038 cars, 2,212 tests and 1,190 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,038 cars

The 2021 Volkswagen California shows a significantly lower overall defect rate, with 54 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the average of 79 defects per 100 vehicles for that year, marking a 31.5% improvement. Notably, this model excels in critical areas such as brakes and steering, exhibiting defect rates of just 16% and 0.1% respectively, which are considerably better than the average. While the model does face some mileage-related trends, with a peak defect rate occurring in the 62,000 to 93,000 miles segment, it remains consistently lower than the average across all mileage categories. Overall, the California stands out positively in several categories, indicating strong reliability in comparison to other vehicles of its year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,038 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
▲ 59.3% better
16.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 85.7% better
0.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 33.1% better
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 82.1% better
2.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Mandatory hazard warning device inoperative
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • Reflector defective or damaged: by more than 50% of the reflecting surface
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 13.2% better
75.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
Body/Structure
▲ 76.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
  • An engine mounting or bracket: severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A door likely to open inadvertently or not remain closed: in the case of a turning door
  • A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
Equipment
▲ 0.0% better
1.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A statutory seat belt missing
Other
▲ 33.3% better
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 300 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: 375
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 141
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 107
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 62
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 57
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 54
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 40
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 38
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 37

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 54
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 35
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4