Volkswagen T-Cross
Registered from 2019 to 2021.
About this model
The Volkswagen T-Cross is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen. It is based on the MQB A0 platform shared with the Polo Mk6, and was officially launched in April 2019. It is positioned below the T-Roc and alongside the Taigo/Nivus.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen T-Cross, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2020 1.0 petrol. 566 of 7,632 tests failed, 7%.
Better than 62% of 2020 cars. The typical one fails 8%, across 906 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 40% | 225 |
| Tyres and wheels | 39% | 223 |
| Visibility | 15% | 86 |
| Lights and electrics | 10% | 54 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 7% | 38 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 4% | 24 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 94% of 2020 cars — 40% of its 566 failed tests, where an ordinary 2020 car has 16%.
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.
- Brakes — 40% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
- Tyres and wheels — 39% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
- Exhaust and emissions — 7% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 10% of its failures
- Visibility — 15% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 60–80k miles this one fails 24% of its inspections, against the 14% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 5% | 5% | 4,216 | |
| 20–40k miles | 10% | 10% | 3,040 | |
| 40–60k miles | 15% | 13% | 332 | |
| 60–80k miles | 24% | 14% | 37 |
7,625 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have under 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.0 petrol · 106 hp · 1288 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 6.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.0 petrol · 110 hp · 1271 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 5.9 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.0 petrol · 101 hp · 1254 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (WLTP) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/01791/21
On all affected T-Cross vehicles, a software error in the control unit for the instrument cluster may result in no visual or audible warning being given when passengers in the rear seat do not have their seatbelt fastened, increasing the risk of injuries. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in 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