Volkswagen California MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 80.7% of Volkswagen California MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 10,390 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
87.4%
All cars: 86.1% (1.3 points better). 2,840 tests.
At 6–10 years
80.6%
All cars: 76.1% (4.5 points better). 4,987 tests.
At 11 years and over
73.9%
All cars: 61.3% (12.6 points better). 2,498 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1,005 | 89.1% | 87.8% | 23,750 miles |
| 4 | 776 | 88.1% | 86.4% | 31,250 miles |
| 5 | 1,059 | 85.3% | 84.5% | 33,750 miles |
| 6 | 1,187 | 82.8% | 81.9% | 41,250 miles |
| 7 | 1,144 | 80.5% | 79.3% | 48,750 miles |
| 8 | 1,008 | 80.6% | 76.3% | 53,750 miles |
| 9 | 824 | 79.6% | 73.1% | 61,250 miles |
| 10 | 824 | 78.4% | 70.0% | 63,750 miles |
| 11 | 692 | 77.3% | 66.9% | 68,750 miles |
| 12 | 562 | 74.0% | 64.4% | 73,750 miles |
| 13 | 496 | 74.2% | 62.1% | 76,250 miles |
| 14 | 362 | 72.1% | 60.2% | 78,750 miles |
| 15 | 167 | 73.1% | 58.6% | 83,750 miles |
| 16 | 61 | 62.3% | 57.5% | 98,750 miles |
| 17 | 70 | 68.6% | 57.2% | 93,750 miles |
| 20+ | 88 | 65.9% | 61.4% | 153,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Volkswagen California MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | California | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.5% | 13.7% |
| Tyres | 7.0% | 8.4% |
| Brakes | 5.5% | 10.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.2% | 16.6% |
| Visibility | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 1.4% | 4.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.3% | 4.0% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.1% | 1.1% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Coil spring: fractured or broken failed 4.0% of tests · what this means
- Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords failed 2.2% of tests
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed failed 1.9% of tests
- Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an abs fault failed 1.9% of tests
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn failed 1.5% of tests · what this means
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 1.2% of tests · what this means
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 1.1% of tests
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too high failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular California?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every California version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: diesel 99.2%, petrol 0.8%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Volkswagen models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.