2021 Volkswagen T-Roc — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 8,087 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 93.1% was in line with the average for small SUVs of a similar age (93.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.7% in the 60-90k group versus 4.8% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

8,087

MOT tests analysed

6.9%

Fail rate

in line with

vs small SUVs of similar age

3.5

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 — 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	4.3%	347
2	Brakes	1.6%	127
3	Visibility	1.5%	122
4	Lighting & signalling	1.4%	109
5	Seat belts & restraints	0.7%	56
6	Emissions & environmental	0.3%	25

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 T-Roc
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	139
2	Brake pads	114
3	Headlamp aim	97
4	Wipers	78
5	Washers	44
6	Brake discs	21

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	20.5%	1,661
2	Brakes	11.7%	943
3	Other defects	7.5%	609
4	Visibility	2.5%	200
5	Suspension	2.2%	181
6	Seat belts & restraints	0.2%	16

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 T-Roc
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	4,473	4.8%
30-60k	3,341	9.4%
60-90k	256	11.7%

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 T-Roc
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Petrol	5,516	7.3%
Diesel	2,571	6.1%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 T-Roc
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	209	7.7%
2024	3,937	6.8%
2025	3,937	7.1%

What to check before buying a 2021 T-Roc

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.3% of tests for this year.

Tyres (4.3% 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.
Brakes (1.6% 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.
Visibility (1.5% 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 T-Rocs pass their MOT?

93.1% of the 8,087 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc?

Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by brakes (1.6%).

Does the 2021 T-Roc get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 11.7% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 8,087 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.