2010 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 44,225 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 75.8% was above the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (74.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.4% in the 150k+ group versus 11.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 7,639 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 3,392 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.9% | 2,625 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 1,686 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 1,230 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,086 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 3,537 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,153 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,180 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,057 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,684 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,289 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.8% | 18,036 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 12,734 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.9% | 9,663 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.6% | 3,794 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 3,040 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 2,854 |
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 | 222 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,290 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 9,698 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 15,710 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 10,563 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 5,732 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,893 | 24.4% |
| Petrol | 2,332 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,274 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 9,133 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 8,943 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 8,676 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 8,199 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Tiguan
Before buying a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 17.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (17.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 44,225 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2010 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,225 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.