2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,412 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 89.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.8% in the 90-120k group versus 5.3% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

1,412

MOT tests analysed

10.2%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

3.2

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 — 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.0%	71
2	Brakes	2.2%	31
3	Suspension	2.2%	31
4	Lighting & signalling	2.1%	29
5	Visibility	1.4%	20
6	Emissions & environmental	0.7%	10

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 — 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Shock absorbers	39
2	Headlamp aim	36
3	Tread depth	28
4	Brake pads	20
5	Wipers	16
6	Malfunction indicator lamp	10

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	20.6%	291
2	Brakes	17.3%	244
3	Other defects	6.7%	95
4	Suspension	6.4%	90
5	Visibility	4.1%	58
6	Emissions & environmental	0.8%	11

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 — 2021 Passat S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	265	5.3%
30-60k	567	9.9%
60-90k	410	12.9%
90-120k	128	14.8%

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 — 2021 Passat S-A
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Diesel	1,136	9.4%
Petrol	276	13.4%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Passat S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2022	78	1.3%
2023	90	6.7%
2024	614	10.6%
2025	602	12.0%

What to check before buying a 2021 Passat S-A

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.0% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.0% 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.
Brakes (2.2% 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.
Suspension (2.2% 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.

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 Passat S-As pass their MOT?

89.8% of the 1,412 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Passat S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.2%).

Does the 2021 Passat S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,412 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.