2021 Volkswagen E-Up — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,672 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen E-Up, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 94.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.1%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 92 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 60 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 39 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 17 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 3 | Washers | 22 |
| 4 | Wipers | 21 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 10 |
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 | 22.9% | 611 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.5% | 121 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.7% | 73 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 42 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 28 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 17 |
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 | 2,300 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 355 | 8.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,303 | 5.6% |
| 2025 | 1,366 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 E-Up
Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen E-Up, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.4% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 E-Ups pass their MOT?
94.2% of the 2,672 2021 Volkswagen E-Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen E-Up?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2021 E-Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 8.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,672 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.