2021 Volkswagen Id3 Family — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,484 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Id3 Family, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.2% 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 | 6.5% | 292 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 79 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 44 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.3% | 14 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 13 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 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 | 89 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 83 |
| 3 | Wipers | 24 |
| 4 | Washers | 22 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 13 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 12 |
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 | 23.6% | 1,058 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.4% | 197 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.2% | 99 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 51 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 49 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 14 |
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 | 2,716 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,590 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 160 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,176 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 2,282 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Id3 Family
Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Id3 Family, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.5% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.0% 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 Id3 Familys pass their MOT?
92.2% of the 4,484 2021 Volkswagen Id3 Family MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Id3 Family?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2021 Id3 Family get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 11.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,484 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.