1978 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

57.1%

Latest Pass Rate

474

Total Tests (All Years)

51,591 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1978 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle as it ages.

31 yrs51.4%

→ ↑8.2%

32 yrs59.6%

→ ↓15.7%

33 yrs43.9%

→ ↑4.4%

34 yrs48.3%

→ ↑7.6%

35 yrs55.9%

→ ↓3.4%

36 yrs52.5%

→ ↑15.6%

37 yrs68.1%

→ ↓11.0%

38 yrs57.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	51.4%	70
32 yrs	59.6%	57
33 yrs	43.9%	66
34 yrs	48.3%	60
35 yrs	55.9%	59
36 yrs	52.5%	59
37 yrs	68.1%	47
38 yrs	57.1%	56

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (38 yrs)	57.1%	56
2015 (37 yrs)	68.1%	47
2014 (36 yrs)	52.5%	59
2013 (35 yrs)	55.9%	59
2012 (34 yrs)	48.3%	60
2011 (33 yrs)	43.9%	66
2010 (32 yrs)	59.6%	57
2009 (31 yrs)	51.4%	70

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 70Avg Mileage 45,874Top Failure Brakes — 30.0%

2010High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 57Avg Mileage 46,925Top Failure Suspension — 24.6%

2011High Fail Rate

43.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 66Avg Mileage 47,947Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 60Avg Mileage 63,897Top Failure Brakes — 30.0%

2013High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 59Avg Mileage 51,011Top Failure Suspension — 59.3%

2014High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 59Avg Mileage 53,397Top Failure Suspension — 69.5%

2015

68.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 47Avg Mileage 47,779Top Failure Brakes — 55.3%

2016High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 56Avg Mileage 51,591Top Failure Suspension — 69.6%

MOT results for 1978 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	51.4%	70	45,874	Brakes — 30.0%
2010	32	59.6%	57	46,925	Suspension — 24.6%
2011	33	43.9%	66	47,947	Suspension — 33.3%
2012	34	48.3%	60	63,897	Brakes — 30.0%
2013	35	55.9%	59	51,011	Suspension — 59.3%
2014	36	52.5%	59	53,397	Suspension — 69.5%
2015	37	68.1%	47	47,779	Brakes — 55.3%
2016	38	57.1%	56	51,591	Suspension — 69.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle, with age trends.

Suspension

42.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

35.7%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

20.5%

↑ Increases with age

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems

15.3%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	22.9% (31 yrs)	69.6% (38 yrs)	+46.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	14.3% (31 yrs)	57.1% (38 yrs)	+42.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	30.0% (31 yrs)	42.9% (38 yrs)	+12.9%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	14.3% (31 yrs)	23.2% (38 yrs)	+8.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978

← Back to Volkswagen 1200 Beetle overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1200 Beetle cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 474 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.