MOT failure data · 2025

Volkswagen Beetle MOT problems

Across every Volkswagen Beetle that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn, on 6.28% of failure items. The broadest problem area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 23.67%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Volkswagen Beetle MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	6.28%
2	Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength	Suspension	4.77%
3	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	4.51%
4	Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	4.19%
5	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	3.35%
6	Rear fog lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.12%
7	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	3.03%
8	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	3.03%
9	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.4%
10	Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Steering	2.33%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Volkswagen Beetle, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Volkswagen Beetle buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Volkswagen Beetle?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Volkswagen models

Volkswagen Beetle MOT FAQs

What does a Volkswagen Beetle most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Volkswagen Beetle cars failing their 2025 MOT was "pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn", appearing on 6.28% of failure items.

Does this mean my Volkswagen Beetle will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Volkswagen Beetle that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Volkswagen Beetle passed 64.47% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Volkswagen Beetle's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.