2021 Volkswagen Id4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,751 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Id4, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 94.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (92.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 9.4% in the 90-120k group versus 3.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 260 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 102 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 72 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 37 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 12 |
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 | 121 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 78 |
| 3 | Washers | 53 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 36 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 21 |
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 | 13.8% | 794 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.6% | 207 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.0% | 171 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 81 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 54 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 21 |
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 | 1,746 | 3.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,425 | 6.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,351 | 7.5% |
| 90-120k | 212 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 666 | 2.5% |
| 2023 | 992 | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 2,121 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 1,970 | 7.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Id4
Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Id4, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (1.3% 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 Id4s pass their MOT?
94.1% of the 5,751 2021 Volkswagen Id4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Id4?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2021 Id4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.7% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,751 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.