Volkswagen Passat

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2011 2.0 diesel. 4,085 of 18,023 tests failed, 23%.

Better than 48% of 2011 cars. The typical one fails 22%, across 924 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
• A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
• Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
• A tyre cords visible or damaged
• The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

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 pin, bush or joint excessively worn
  • A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
  • A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
• Tyres and wheels — 33% of its failures
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre cords visible or damaged
  • A tyre seriously damaged
• Brakes — 18% of its failures
  • A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
• Exhaust and emissions — 8% of its failures
• Lights and electrics — 24% of its failures
• Body and structure — 9% of its failures

When it starts failing

At 200k+ miles this one fails 23% of its inspections, against the 26% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

18,007 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 120k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

• A12/00188/24

  The thermal protection between the brake force booster and the emissions control device in front of the coupling support with the brake fluid reservoir may not have been correctly fitted. The coupling support could melt, leading to a leak of brake fluid, which could ignite if it comes into contact with hot components. 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

• A12/00565/22

  The amount of extinguishing sand in the fuse of the high-voltage system is not sufficient in the event of a short circuit to the high-voltage safety system. This may cause it to burst, increasing the risk of injuries. Furthermore, the blown fuse can interrupt electrical flow of current leading to a voltage drop inside the vehicle, increasing the risk of fire. 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

• A12/00584/22

  The engine covers installed on affected vehicles could detach from their fixings depending on the conditions of use (e.g. very sporty driving, or poor road surfaces) and their age. A loose engine cover could come into contact with the hot area of the exhaust gas turbocharger, increasing the risk of burns or fire. 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 vehicle.

  Recall of the product from end users

• A12/00793/24

  Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use. 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

• A12/00851/20

  Volkswagen has been informed by its current supplier that driver-airbag gas generators from the original manufacturer Takata (‘NADI’ (non-azide driver inflator) generators) produced during 1997-1999 may be faulty. VW used these gas generators exclusively in vehicles with a wooden steering-wheel rim (at that time an equipment option). Internal investigations have shown that in the event of an accident the restraining effect of the deployed NADI driver airbag might not always be fully guaranteed. Compliance with the statutory requirements in force for protection by an airbag in the event of an accident is thus not ensured.

  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

• A12/0096/16

  There may be metal chips in the housing of the airbag control module. This could result in a short-circuit occurring on the circuit board in the airbag control module causing the airbags to deploy unnecessarily.

  Recall of the product from end users

• A12/01363/21

  The push/actuating rod may not be properly screwed onto the brake booster and could become detached.As a result, there would no longer be any mechanical connection between the foot brake and the brake booster.Consequently, braking will be possible only by actuating the regulated emergency-braking function of the electronic parking brake (EPB) using the EPB switch on the central console.

  Recall of the product from end users

12 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.