Volkswagen Passat Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Volkswagen Passat vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 78% MOT pass rate
  • 4,600 Passats checked
  • 14.9% of Volkswagens had outstanding finance

Volkswagen Passat reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Volkswagen Passat history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Volkswagen Passat car check:

Of the 484 Volkswagen vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 14.9% had outstanding finance recorded, 13.0% an insurance write-off record and 35.1% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a Passat by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Volkswagen Passat MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 4,489 Volkswagen Passat vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 78%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 9,400typical miles a year
  • 7.5%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 59,868MOT tests analysed
  • 2008–2015built (middle half)
  • 91%diesel; 6% petrol; 3% hybrid electric (clean); 1% heavy oil

Volkswagen Passat common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Volkswagen Passat, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the Passat's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 20 Volkswagen Passat MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
  2. Coil spring fractured or broken1.6%
  3. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.5%
  4. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%
  5. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.2%
  6. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.0%
  7. Headlamp aim too low1.0%
  8. Position lamp not working1.0%
  9. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.9%
  10. Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak0.9%
Show all 20
  1. Registration plate lamp not working0.8%
  2. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.8%
  3. Headlamp aim too high0.7%
  4. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  5. Side repeater not working0.6%
  6. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.6%
  7. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.6%
  8. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.6%
  9. Stop lamp not working0.6%
  10. Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault0.5%

Top 20 Volkswagen Passat MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.9%
  2. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.0%
  3. Brake pad wearing thin6.4%
  4. Tyre worn close to the legal limit5.2%
  5. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.8%
  6. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread2.5%
  7. Oil leak, but not excessive2.3%
  8. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil2.1%
  9. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.9%
  10. Coil spring corroded1.9%
Show all 20
  1. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated1.9%
  2. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.7%
  3. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.6%
  4. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.5%
  5. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.4%
  6. Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect1.4%
  7. Shock absorber has a light misting of oil1.3%
  8. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play1.3%
  9. Nail in tyre1.2%
  10. Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement0.9%
  • Lights and indicators: 35% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 33% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 29% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 15% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 11% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 27% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 20% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 20% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 4,489 Volkswagen Passat vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (59,868 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Volkswagen Passat versions

Every Volkswagen Passat version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "Passat" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
Passat (no version recorded) 4,337 78% Lights and indicators
Passat SEL
  • Passat SEL TDI S-A: 22
  • Passat SEL TDI: 9
  • Passat SEL TSI EVO: 9
  • Passat SEL TSI S-A: 7
  • Passat SEL TSI EVO S-A: 6
 53 – –
Passat SE
  • Passat SE NAV TDI: 13
  • Passat SE NAV TDI S-A: 11
  • and 9 more
 40 – –
Passat R-Line
  • Passat R-Line TDI S-A: 21
  • and 3 more
 25 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Volkswagen Passat

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Volkswagen on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the Passat. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Volkswagen Passat

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Volkswagen Passat car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Volkswagen Passat you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a Passat by reg → See a sample report

Volkswagen Passat MOT questions

How do I check a used Volkswagen Passat for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 484 Volkswagen Passat vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 14.9% had outstanding finance recorded and 13.0% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Volkswagen Passat car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Volkswagen Passat are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Passat?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.8% of the Volkswagen Passat MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 35% of failed tests.

What is the Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate?

78% of 59,868 MOT tests on 4,489 Volkswagen Passat vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Volkswagen Passat?

Going by its MOT records, the Volkswagen Passat's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.8% of tests); coil spring fractured or broken (1.6% of tests); tyre has ply or cords exposed (1.5% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Volkswagen Passat?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 8.9% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Volkswagen Passat typically driven?

About 9,400 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 7.5% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Volkswagen car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Volkswagen Passat