Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

249,876 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2008–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 15 Volkswagen Tiguan years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2008–2022
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

81.3%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 81.2% to 81.5%.

Volkswagen Tiguan, all years81.3%
Same-age average, all vehicles77.4%

In 2025, 81.3% of the 249,876 initial MOT tests on Volkswagen Tiguan cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 77.4%. That is 4.0 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific Tiguan

Its own MOT history, free.

Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	17,28026,600	89.7%±0.5	+1.2 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	22,58034,600	90.3%±0.4	+3.1 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	23,72940,500	88.8%±0.5	+2.8 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	34,35048,400	87.2%±0.4	+3.7 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	29,29659,100	85.4%±0.5	+4.5 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	26,15769,200	85.8%±0.5	+7.6 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	18,47975,700	81.3%±0.6	+6.4 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	19,81181,600	74.8%±0.7	+2.9 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	15,18088,600	71.8%±0.8	+3.2 ptsall: 68.6%
2013age 12	12,12097,300	71.0%±0.9	+5.2 ptsall: 65.8%
2012age 13	8,804107,800	66.0%±1.0	+2.5 ptsall: 63.5%
2011age 14	6,519116,500	64.5%±1.2	+3.3 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15	6,310121,800	62.3%±1.3	+3.0 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	5,594125,700	60.4%±1.3	+2.1 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	3,667132,800	60.7%±1.6	+3.5 ptsall: 57.2%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Tiguan problems at the MOT

Share of the 46,607 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Suspension38.9%
Tyres30.4%
Lights and electrics19.0%
Brakes17.6%
Noise, emissions, leaks10.7%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors10.2%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Tiguan

Based on the areas where Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 38.9% of failed Tiguan tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Tyres
In 30.4% of failed Tiguan tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Lights and electrics
In 19.0% of failed Tiguan tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Brakes
In 17.6% of failed Tiguan tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Tiguan's MOT history

Volkswagen Tiguan questions

Which Volkswagen Tiguan years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2008–2022. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 81.3% of initial MOT tests on Volkswagen Tiguan cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 77.4%. That is 4.0 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Volkswagen Tiguan problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 38.9% of failed tests), tyres (in 30.4% of failed tests) and lights and electrics (in 19.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Volkswagen Tiguan?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Volkswagen Tiguan cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 81,600 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Tiguan's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Volkswagen Tiguan

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Volkswagen models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 24 Volkswagen models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Volkswagen Tiguan cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count