MOT Results

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Volkswagen Beetle MOT Results

72.4% pass rate
from 1,789 tests in 2021
Number of tests by age
More MoT Results
Failure rates by item

Here you can drill down into the failure rates for each item on the test. We've also compared the rates to the average results for pre-1990 cars and highlighted areas where the Volkswagen Beetle is unusually good or bad.

  • 14% fail on Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
    • 4.8% fail on Headlamp aim (34% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 4.5% fail on Headlamp aim (36% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.39% fail on Headlamp aim not tested
    • 4.5% fail on Headlamps (48% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 4.4% fail on Headlamp (51% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.22% fail on Dipswitch
    • 3.6% fail on Stop lamp (46% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 3.0% fail on Direction indicators
      • 3.0% fail on Flashing type
        • 2.3% fail on Individual direction indicators
        • 0.50% fail on All direction indicators
        • 0.11% fail on Switch
    • 2.6% fail on Electrical equipment
      • 2.2% fail on Horn (92% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.39% fail on Battery(ies)
    • 1.7% fail on Registration plate lamp(s)
    • 0.056% fail on Position lamps
      • 0.056% fail on Position lamp
    • 0.056% fail on Front and rear fog lamps
      • 0.056% fail on Rear fog lamp
        • 0.056% fail on Rear fog lamp
    • 0.056% fail on Mandatory tell-tales
      • 0.056% fail on Rear fog lamp tell-tale
  • 11% fail on Visibility (75% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 9.0% fail on Washers (110% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 3.2% fail on Wipers
    • 0.34% fail on View to rear
      • 0.34% fail on Mirrors
    • 0.22% fail on Bonnet
    • 0.056% fail on Condition of glass
      • 0.056% fail on Windscreen
  • 10% fail on Brakes
    • 8.3% fail on Brake performance
      • 4.8% fail on Service Brake Efficiency (sp) (62% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 4.8% fail on Rbt (sp) (66% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
          • 3.7% fail on Service brake imbalance (87% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
          • 2.2% fail on Service brake performance (75% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.056% fail on Plate brake tester (sp)
          • 0.056% fail on Service brake imbalance
      • 4.2% fail on Service brake performance (39% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 4.2% fail on Rbt (43% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
          • 3.1% fail on Service brake performance
          • 1.5% fail on Service brake imbalance (110% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 2.2% fail on Parking brake efficiency (sp)
        • 2.2% fail on Rbt (sp)
        • 0.056% fail on Plate brake tester (sp)
      • 1.2% fail on Parking brake performance
        • 1.2% fail on Rbt
          • 0.95% fail on Parking brake performance
          • 0.28% fail on Parking (secondary brake performance)
        • 0.056% fail on Plate brake tester
          • 0.056% fail on Parking brake performance
      • 0.056% fail on Brake performance not tested
    • 0.89% fail on Flexible brake hoses (130% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.78% fail on Brake actuators (including spring brakes or hydraulic cylinders) (160% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.67% fail on Hydraulic brake cylinder (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.11% fail on Hydraulic brake callipers
    • 0.56% fail on Parking brake control
      • 0.56% fail on Lever
    • 0.50% fail on Hydraulic systems
      • 0.22% fail on Brake fluid
      • 0.17% fail on Reservoirs
      • 0.056% fail on Master cylinder
      • 0.056% fail on Valves
    • 0.50% fail on Rigid brake pipes (55% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.39% fail on Service brake pedal or hand lever
      • 0.22% fail on Pedal
      • 0.17% fail on Hand lever
    • 0.39% fail on Mechanical brake components
      • 0.22% fail on Brake linings and pads
        • 0.17% fail on Brake linings (5 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.056% fail on Brake pads
      • 0.11% fail on Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages
        • 0.056% fail on Cable
        • 0.056% fail on Brake slack adjuster
      • 0.056% fail on Brake discs and drums
        • 0.056% fail on Brake drums
    • 0.056% fail on Other components and prescribed areas
      • 0.056% fail on Prescribed areas
        • 0.056% fail on Master cylinder/servo mounting
  • 7.7% fail on Suspension
    • 2.5% fail on Suspension arms
      • 1.2% fail on Ball joint dust cover (120% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.89% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.45% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.11% fail on Suspension arm
      • 0.056% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
    • 2.5% fail on Component mounting prescribed areas
    • 2.0% fail on Wheel bearings
    • 0.84% fail on Sub-frames (98% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.73% fail on Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas (190% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.056% fail on Sub-frame
      • 0.056% fail on Pins and bushes
    • 0.73% fail on Anti-roll bars
      • 0.28% fail on Linkage pins and bushes
      • 0.22% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
      • 0.11% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.056% fail on Anti-roll bar
      • 0.056% fail on Linkage
      • 0.056% fail on Linkage attachment bracket and mounting
    • 0.50% fail on Other suspension component
      • 0.17% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.17% fail on Ball joint dust cover
      • 0.11% fail on Other suspension component
      • 0.11% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
      • 0.11% fail on Ball joint
    • 0.34% fail on Axles
      • 0.22% fail on Axle (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.11% fail on Swivel pins and bushes
    • 0.34% fail on Shock absorbers
    • 0.11% fail on Springs (84% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.056% fail on Coil springs
        • 0.056% fail on Coil spring
      • 0.056% fail on Spring mounting prescribed areas
    • 0.11% fail on Macpherson strut
      • 0.056% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.056% fail on Ball joint
    • 0.11% fail on Suspension rods
      • 0.056% fail on Suspension rod
      • 0.056% fail on Ball joint dust cover
  • 5.4% fail on Body, chassis, structure
    • 1.3% fail on Chassis
      • 1.3% fail on Chassis condition
    • 1.3% fail on Integral vehicle structure
      • 1.2% fail on Integral vehicle structure condition
      • 0.056% fail on Sub-frame
        • 0.056% fail on Sub-frame condition
    • 1.1% fail on Fuel system
      • 0.84% fail on Fuel cap/sealing device (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.17% fail on Pipe
      • 0.11% fail on Hose
      • 0.056% fail on Tank
    • 0.84% fail on Seats
      • 0.73% fail on Driver's seat
      • 0.17% fail on Passenger's seat
    • 0.61% fail on Exhaust system (65% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.39% fail on Doors
      • 0.28% fail on Driver's door
        • 0.22% fail on Door condition
        • 0.056% fail on Hinge
      • 0.17% fail on Front passenger's door
        • 0.17% fail on Door condition
    • 0.28% fail on Body
      • 0.17% fail on Mounting fixings (4 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.11% fail on Other body component
    • 0.22% fail on Transmission (83% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.22% fail on Drive shafts (79% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.17% fail on Joints (84% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.056% fail on Drive shaft
    • 0.22% fail on Floor
    • 0.17% fail on Cabs
      • 0.17% fail on Prescribed areas
    • 0.11% fail on Boot lid
      • 0.11% fail on Boot lid condition
    • 0.056% fail on Bumpers
  • 3.5% fail on Steering
    • 2.3% fail on Steering linkage components
      • 1.5% fail on Track rod end
      • 0.39% fail on Locking devices (190% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.17% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.11% fail on Drag link end
      • 0.11% fail on Intermediate drop arm
      • 0.11% fail on Other components
        • 0.056% fail on Steering component
        • 0.056% fail on Steering linkage
      • 0.11% fail on Lock stop (15 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.39% fail on Prescribed areas (2 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 0.34% fail on Steering column
    • 0.28% fail on Steering play
      • 0.28% fail on Steering box
    • 0.17% fail on Steering gear (85% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.11% fail on Steering box
      • 0.056% fail on Operation
    • 0.17% fail on Steering wheel
    • 0.17% fail on Steering coupling
      • 0.11% fail on Flexible coupling (6 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.056% fail on Universal joint
  • 2.6% fail on Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems (60% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 2.6% fail on Seat belts (61% worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.2% fail on Prescribed areas
      • 0.61% fail on Condition
      • 0.56% fail on Attachment (4 times worse than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 0.22% fail on Requirements
  • 1.6% fail on Tyres
    • 0.84% fail on Condition
    • 0.67% fail on Tread depth
    • 0.056% fail on Size/type
  • 1.5% fail on Noise, emissions and leaks (67% better than other pre-1990 cars)
    • 1.1% fail on Exhaust emissions (73% better than other pre-1990 cars)
      • 1.1% fail on Spark ignition (71% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.89% fail on Non catalyst emissions (71% better than other pre-1990 cars)
        • 0.17% fail on Emissions not tested
    • 0.39% fail on Fluid leaks
      • 0.28% fail on Engine oil leaks
      • 0.11% fail on Transmission oil leaks
      • 0.056% fail on Hydraulic fluid leaks
  • 0.61% fail on Identification of the vehicle
    • 0.61% fail on Registration plates
  • 0.17% fail on Road Wheels
    • 0.11% fail on Attachment
    • 0.056% fail on Condition
  • 0.11% fail on Speedometer and speed limiter
    • 0.11% fail on Speedometer
  • 0.056% fail on Seat belt installation check
    • 0.056% fail on Anchorages
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