Volkswagen FOX
Registered from 2004 to 2018.
About this model
The Volkswagen Fox is a subcompact car produced and designed by Volkswagen of Brazil and sold in Latin America from 2003 until 2021 and in Europe from 2005 until 2011, where it was sold as the city car offering. The Fox was produced as a 3-door and 5-door hatchback. There is also a mini SUV version called Fox Xtreme and a mini MPV/station wagon model called Suran, SpaceFox, SportVan or Fox Plus depending on the market.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Fox, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2010 1.2 petrol. 2,658 of 9,496 tests failed, 28%.
Better than 21% of 2010 cars. The typical one fails 24%, across 955 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 57% | 1,517 |
| Lights and electrics | 37% | 975 |
| Visibility | 26% | 696 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 26% | 683 |
| Brakes | 22% | 591 |
| Body and structure | 21% | 553 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Where it stands out against its peers
- Visibility: failed more often than 96% of 2010 cars — 26% of its 2,658 failed tests, where an ordinary 2010 car has 10%.
- Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 91% of 2010 cars — 26% of its 2,658 failed tests, where an ordinary 2010 car has 11%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 57% of its failures
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Exhaust and emissions — 26% of its failures
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Brakes — 22% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 37% of its failures
- Visibility — 26% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Body and structure — 21% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 160–180k miles this one fails 34% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 17% | 12% | 208 | |
| 20–40k miles | 18% | 15% | 1,070 | |
| 40–60k miles | 26% | 19% | 1,999 | |
| 60–80k miles | 28% | 22% | 2,501 | |
| 80–100k miles | 32% | 25% | 2,059 | |
| 100–120k miles | 33% | 27% | 1,049 | |
| 120–140k miles | 32% | 28% | 379 | |
| 140–160k miles | 36% | 28% | 154 | |
| 160–180k miles | 34% | 28% | 47 |
9,466 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00580/23
The airbag may be faulty. Fragments can detach from the inflator housing when deployed and injure vehicle occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00923/24
The driver airbag's gas generator may be faulty, resulting in uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments. This increases the risk of injuries to the occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01485/22
The airbag propellant may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident this can lead to the release of fragments of the front airbag from the generator housing, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02686/24
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/03004/23
The propellant in the front passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/00793/25
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users