Used Volkswagen Tiguan buying guide: MOT data and checks

At a glance

• On UK roads: 358,578 licensed cars (2026 Q2), up from 240,912 in 2021 Q2
• MOT pass rate (first test, 2025): 81.4% (+3.8 pts vs all cars of the same age)
• Tests analysed: 255,818
• Recall campaigns: 30 since 1992

Pass rate by year of first use

Where they fail

The table shows the main failure areas for the Volkswagen Tiguan in 2025 with n equal to 255818 tests.

• Suspension: 7.1% of initial tests
• Tyres: 5.7% of initial tests
• Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 3.5% of initial tests
• Brakes: 3.3% of initial tests
• Visibility: 2% of initial tests
• Noise, emissions and leaks: 2% of initial tests
• Body, chassis, structure: 1% of initial tests
• Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems: 0.6% of initial tests
• Steering: 0.3% of initial tests
• Identification of the vehicle: 0.2% of initial tests
• Road Wheels: 0.2% of initial tests
• Seat belt installation check: 0% of initial tests
• Buses and coaches supplementary tests: 0% of initial tests

Top failure items

Most common advisories

1. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16.27% of tests)
2. Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (11.34% of tests)
3. Brake pads: wearing thin (10.48% of tests)
4. Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (8.92% of tests)
5. Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (7.71% of tests)

Typical mileage at MOT

Median recorded at test; individual cars vary.

Fuel mix and fleet

• Diesel: 54.3%
• Petrol: 29.5%
• Plug-in hybrid electric (petrol): 8.5%
• Hybrid electric (petrol): 7.7%

358,578 licensed and 5,505 SORN (2026 Q2).

Recalls

30 recall campaigns match this model in the DVSA recalls data (downloaded 2026-10-14).

• 20/06/2025 · Curtain airbag · build 05/12/2018 to 17/02/2019
• 19/12/2024 · Lever for seat height adjustment · build 14/05/2024 to 21/05/2024
• 07/03/2024 · Curtain Airbag · build 27/11/2018 to 09/02/2019
• 13/06/2023 · Takata Front airbag · build 03/11/2014 to 19/04/2017
• 30/05/2022 · SPORADIC MALFUNCTIONS IN A PRESSURE CASTING SYSTEM CAUSED INDIVIDUAL REAR WHEEL BEARING HOUSINGS TO BE FITTED WITH OXIDE INCLUSIONS · build 23/07/2021 to 20/09/2021

Recalls apply to specific build ranges. Check a particular car on GOV.UK: Check vehicle recalls (GOV.UK).

Free official checks before you buy

• Check MOT history (GOV.UK, external)
• Vehicle enquiry: tax and MOT status (GOV.UK, external)
• Check vehicle recalls (GOV.UK, external)

Buyer notes

MOT data describes test outcomes, not overall vehicle condition. The Volkswagen Tiguan recorded 255818 MOT tests in 2025 with a pass rate of 81.4 percent. This is 3.8 points above the same-age benchmark of 77.6 percent. Initial fail rate was 18.6 percent. Pass rates by first-use year range from 60.7 percent for 2008 (n=3667) to 90.2 percent for 2021 (n=23227). The most common failure areas are Suspension at 7.1 percent of tests, Tyres at 5.7 percent, Lamps reflectors and electrical equipment at 3.5 percent, Brakes at 3.3 percent and Visibility at 2 percent. Top failure items include Coil spring fractured or broken at 2.7 percent of tests, Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm at 2.47 percent, Pins and bushes excessively worn at 2.19 percent, Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick at 1.85 percent and Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements at 1.43 percent. Median mileage rises from 26767 at age 3 (n=19576) to 121795 at age 15 (n=6307). There are 358578 licensed Tiguan vehicles on UK roads and 5505 on SORN. Recalls apply to specific build ranges; buyers should check a specific car on GOV.UK. Campaign data only; a recall may not affect every car of this model. Check a specific car at https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall. Point readers to the free GOV.UK services and to the guides named in the JSON.

Frequently asked questions

How many Volkswagen Tiguan cars are licensed in the UK?

There are 358578 licensed Tiguan vehicles on UK roads.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Tiguan?

The model achieved a pass rate of 81.4 percent which is 3.8 points above the same-age benchmark.

What are the top failure items for the Volkswagen Tiguan?

Top items are Coil spring fractured or broken at 2.7 percent, Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm at 2.47 percent and Pins and bushes excessively worn at 2.19 percent.