2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,337 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects. Its pass rate of 91.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).

Pass rate

1,337

MOT tests analysed

9.0%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars 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 Tiguan R S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	6.5%	87
2	Lighting & signalling	1.1%	15
3	Other defects	0.8%	11
4	Visibility	0.8%	10
5	Emissions & environmental	0.8%	10
6	Brakes	0.5%	7

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 Tiguan R S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Registration plates	20
2	Headlamp aim	20
3	Catalyst emissions	12
4	Tread depth	6
5	Brake pads	6
6	Washers	5

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	19.1%	255
2	Brakes	9.9%	132
3	Other defects	6.4%	85
4	Visibility	2.8%	38
5	Suspension	1.9%	26
6	Emissions & environmental	1.1%	15

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 Tiguan R S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	723	7.6%
30-60k	570	10.7%
60-90k	42	9.5%

Failure rate by age

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

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Tiguan R S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	656	8.7%
2025	664	9.5%

What to check before buying a 2021 Tiguan R S-A

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.5% of tests for this year.

Tyres (6.5% 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.
Lighting & signalling (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Other defects (0.8% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.

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 Tiguan R S-As pass their MOT?

91.0% of the 1,337 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.

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

Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).

Does the 2021 Tiguan R S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,337 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.