2020 Volkswagen Tiguan S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,217 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 252 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.1% | 154 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 96 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 77 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 76 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 49 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 133 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 121 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 64 |
| 5 | Wipers | 58 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 52 |
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 | 20.5% | 1,478 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.0% | 1,227 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 596 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 595 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 162 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 19 |
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 | 3,359 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,259 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 517 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 70 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,031 | 8.1% |
| Petrol | 3,186 | 6.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 59 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 2,458 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 2,352 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 2,348 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Tiguan S-A
Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
- Brakes (2.1% 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 (1.3% 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 Tiguan S-As pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 7,217 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by brakes (2.1%).
Does the 2020 Tiguan S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,217 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.