2020 Volkswagen Id3 Business — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,552 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Id3 Business, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 93.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.5% in the 60-90k group versus 4.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.1% | 64 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 20 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.8% | 12 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 3 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Wipers | 9 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 8 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 7 |
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 | 21.5% | 334 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.3% | 67 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.4% | 52 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 22 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 833 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 634 | 7.7% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 11.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 471 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 531 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 550 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Id3 Business
Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Id3 Business, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.1% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.2% 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 2020 Volkswagen Id3 Businesss pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 1,552 2020 Volkswagen Id3 Business MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Id3 Business?
Tyres, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2020 Id3 Business get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,552 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.