2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 2,911 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 90.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (89.8%).

Pass rate

2,911

MOT tests analysed

9.6%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

4.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.3%	153
2	Suspension	1.9%	55
3	Brakes	1.8%	52
4	Visibility	1.6%	46
5	Emissions & environmental	1.2%	34
6	Lighting & signalling	1.1%	33

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	84
2	Shock absorbers	62
3	Brake pads	34
4	Headlamp aim	31
5	Malfunction indicator lamp	31
6	Wipers	24

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	20.7%	602
2	Brakes	16.9%	492
3	Suspension	11.9%	346
4	Other defects	6.5%	188
5	Visibility	3.1%	89
6	Lighting & signalling	0.4%	13

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2019 Passat S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	447	6.9%
30-60k	1,240	9.3%
60-90k	684	11.0%
90-120k	334	9.6%
120-150k	134	15.7%
150k+	72	5.6%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 2019 Passat S-A
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Diesel	2,804	9.7%
Petrol	107	6.5%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2019 Passat S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2022	729	10.6%
2023	742	9.2%
2024	726	10.1%
2025	711	8.6%

What to check before buying a 2019 Passat S-A

Before buying a 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.3% 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.
Suspension (1.9% 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.
Brakes (1.8% 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.

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 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-As pass their MOT?

90.4% of the 2,911 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Passat S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (1.9%).

Does the 2019 Passat S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 5.6% in the 150k+ band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,911 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.