Skip to main content

Volkswagen PASSAT - 2020

96.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2020 is 91.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen PASSAT, model year 2020. Sample size: 6,083 cars, 12,671 tests and 12,180 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 6,083 cars

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat has an overall defect rate of 96 per 100 vehicles, which is 7% higher than the average for cars of the same year, at 90 per 100. While tyre wear is common among many vehicles, the Passat notably stands out in several categories. It performs significantly better than average in steering, visibility, lights and electrics, body structure, and other issues, all with much lower defect rates. However, it has a higher incidence of brake-related defects, with 60% compared to the average of 49%. Mileage trends indicate increasing defects with higher mileage, particularly in the oldest segment, reflecting a consistent pattern seen across most vehicles.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 6,083 cars

Categories

Brakes
▼ 17.3% worse
59.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • 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
Steering
▲ 86.7% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • 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.
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 33.3% better
9.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.1 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 62.5% better
4.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 18.3% worse
115.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.5 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • 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
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 87.5% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.4 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
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 buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • A seat belt:
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▲ 54.1% better
1.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.7 / 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 273 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: 3,181
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,170
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,293
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,171
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 938
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 320
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 302
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 262
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 258
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 227

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 320
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 262
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 223
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 209
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 103
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 81
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 67
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 26