2021 Volkswagen Arteon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,583 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 90.2% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.5% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.3% | 33 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 13 |
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 | 41 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 31 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 29 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
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 | 17.6% | 454 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 363 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 162 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 159 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 63 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 18 |
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 | 971 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,284 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 272 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 44 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,425 | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 1,155 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 37 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 1,272 | 10.1% |
| 2025 | 1,269 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Arteon
Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Arteon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.8% 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.
- Brakes (1.5% 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.
- Suspension (1.3% 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.
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 2021 Volkswagen Arteons pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 2,583 2021 Volkswagen Arteon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Arteon?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by brakes (1.5%).
Does the 2021 Arteon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,583 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.