2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 85.4% of Volkswagen Tiguans first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 88,578 Tiguan first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, brakes and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Volkswagen Tiguans first used in 2018 (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

Passed first time, 2025
85.4%
of 29,296 first tests; all cars first used in 2018: 80.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
88,578
first tests, 2023–2025; 29,296 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
49.1%
of 29,296 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
59,000
middle half: 46,500–73,500 miles; all cars first used in 2018: 52,000

How the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Tiguans first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Tiguan figure was 4.5 points higher.

2018 TiguanAll cars first used in 2018
80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2018, test year 2021: 87.6%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2022: 86.3%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2023: 84.2%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2024: 82.5%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2025: 80.9%2018 Tiguan, test year 2021: 82.4%2018 Tiguan, test year 2022: 88.5%2018 Tiguan, test year 2023: 88.1%2018 Tiguan, test year 2024: 86.5%2018 Tiguan, test year 2025: 85.4%85.4%80.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2018 TiguanAll cars first used 2018Tiguan first tests
202182.4%87.6%31,013
202288.5%86.3%30,186
202388.1%84.2%29,729
202486.5%82.5%29,553
202585.4%80.9%29,296

Common 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT failures

Share of the 11,809 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%.

Tyres39.6%
Brakes20.2%
Suspension16.0%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment13.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks13.1%
Visibility10.1%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems3.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm18.0%2,129
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick13.0%1,538
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords10.7%1,259
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction8.8%1,035
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.8%917

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Tiguan in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively wornSuspension arm replacement£150£120–£180

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Tiguans, as a share of all 88,578 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15.0%13,311
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.7%10,375
Brake pads: wearing thin11.3%10,041
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.3%8,221
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt4.8%4,282

Questions about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

In 2025, 85.4% of Tiguans first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2018 Tiguan most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 39.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (20.2%) and suspension (16.0%). The single most common item was “Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm” (18.0%).

How often does a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan fail its MOT?

In 2025, 14.6% of first tests on Tiguans first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 12.3% failed, and a further 2.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 11,809 of 88,578 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 15.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (11.7%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.3%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.3%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (4.8%).

Is a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 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 82.4% in 2021 to 85.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2018

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2018 Tiguan” means a Volkswagen Tiguan whose date of first use falls in 2018 (67, 18 and 68 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2018, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.