2020 Volkswagen T-Cross — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,868 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen T-Cross, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.6% in the 90-120k group versus 6.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 773 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.3% | 743 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 422 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 359 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 124 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 612 |
| 2 | Washers | 279 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 243 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 233 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 203 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 192 |
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 | 19.9% | 4,552 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 4,213 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 1,385 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.9% | 655 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 488 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 323 |
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 | 14,810 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,389 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 610 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,416 | 8.5% |
| Diesel | 452 | 11.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 348 | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 7,528 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 7,360 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 7,629 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 T-Cross
Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen T-Cross, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.4% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 (3.3% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2020 Volkswagen T-Crosss pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 22,868 2020 Volkswagen T-Cross MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen T-Cross?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by brakes (3.3%).
Does the 2020 T-Cross get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 17.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,868 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.