2010 Volkswagen Phaeton — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 522 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 81.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (77.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.2% in the 150k+ group versus 17.6% in the 60-90k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.8% | 41 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 35 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 30 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 17 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Washers | 14 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 9 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 9 |
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 | 25.9% | 135 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.5% | 112 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.4% | 101 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 68 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.4% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 108 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 156 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 105 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 115 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 120 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 114 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 112 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 89 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 87 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Phaeton
Before buying a 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 7.8% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (7.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
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 2010 Volkswagen Phaetons pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 522 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Brakes, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2010 Phaeton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 60-90k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 522 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.