2015 Volkswagen Beetle MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 68.0% of Volkswagen Beetles first used in 2015 passed their MOT first time, against 71.9% for all cars first used in 2015. Across 9,780 Beetle first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, lamps and electrical equipment and tyres.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Volkswagen Beetles first used in 2015 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Beetles first used in 2015 against all cars first used in 2015 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Beetle figure was 3.9 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2015 Beetle | All cars first used 2015 | Beetle first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75.4% | 79.7% | 3,274 |
| 2022 | 73.6% | 77.8% | 3,265 |
| 2023 | 71.8% | 75.5% | 3,259 |
| 2024 | 69.0% | 73.5% | 3,262 |
| 2025 | 68.0% | 71.9% | 3,259 |
Common 2015 Volkswagen Beetle MOT failures
Share of the 2,973 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Rear fog lamp: not working | 24.9% | 741 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 21.6% | 641 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | 17.5% | 521 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 7.4% | 220 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 6.6% | 197 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Beetle in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Coil spring replacement | £248 | £175–£400 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2015 Volkswagen Beetle MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2015 Beetles, as a share of all 9,780 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 15.5% | 1,517 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 12.1% | 1,182 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.0% | 882 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 8.5% | 829 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 6.7% | 657 |
Questions about the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle?
In 2025, 68.0% of Beetles first used in 2015 passed their MOT first time, against 71.9% for all cars first used in 2015. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2015 Beetle most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension (in 44.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (33.6%) and tyres (21.2%). The single most common item was “Rear fog lamp: not working” (24.9%).
How often does a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle fail its MOT?
In 2025, 32.0% of first tests on Beetles first used in 2015 did not pass first time: 28.9% failed, and a further 3.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,973 of 9,780 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2015 Volkswagen Beetle MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 15.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.0%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (8.5%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.7%).
Is a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 75.4% in 2021 to 68.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2015
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2015 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2015 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2015 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2015 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2015 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2015 Beetle?
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