2017 Volkswagen Arteon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,944 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Volkswagen Arteon, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (87.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 189 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.0% | 58 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 41 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 34 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 28 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 49 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 43 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 24 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 23 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.3% | 598 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 437 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 297 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.9% | 203 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 84 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 64 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 564 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,383 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 732 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 206 | 12.6% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,175 | 10.0% |
| Diesel | 769 | 10.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 605 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 596 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 582 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 594 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 567 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Arteon
Before buying a 2017 Volkswagen Arteon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.4% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (2.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (1.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Volkswagen Arteons pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 2,944 2017 Volkswagen Arteon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Arteon?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (2.0%).
Does the 2017 Arteon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,944 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.