1971 Volkswagen 1302 S Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

63.1%

Latest Pass Rate

741

Total Tests (All Years)

45,870 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 1302 S Beetle

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Volkswagen 1302 S Beetle as it ages.

38 yrs59.8%

→ ↓8.1%

39 yrs51.7%

→ ↑1.7%

40 yrs53.4%

→ ↑7.8%

41 yrs61.2%

→ ↓0.6%

42 yrs60.6%

→ ↓3.5%

43 yrs57.1%

→ ↑5.3%

44 yrs62.4%

→ ↑0.7%

45 yrs63.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	59.8%	97
39 yrs	51.7%	89
40 yrs	53.4%	103
41 yrs	61.2%	98
42 yrs	60.6%	94
43 yrs	57.1%	91
44 yrs	62.4%	85
45 yrs	63.1%	84

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Volkswagen 1302 S Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (45 yrs)	63.1%	84
2015 (44 yrs)	62.4%	85
2014 (43 yrs)	57.1%	91
2013 (42 yrs)	60.6%	94
2012 (41 yrs)	61.2%	98
2011 (40 yrs)	53.4%	103
2010 (39 yrs)	51.7%	89
2009 (38 yrs)	59.8%	97

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 97Avg Mileage 48,952Top Failure Suspension — 25.8%

2010High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 89Avg Mileage 45,800Top Failure Suspension — 27.0%

2011High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 103Avg Mileage 47,742Top Failure Suspension — 28.2%

2012High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 98Avg Mileage 49,219Top Failure Suspension — 24.5%

2013High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 94Avg Mileage 47,538Top Failure Brakes — 62.8%

2014High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 91Avg Mileage 48,733Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.7%

2015High Fail Rate

62.4%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 85Avg Mileage 53,243Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.9%

2016High Fail Rate

63.1%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 84Avg Mileage 45,870Top Failure Suspension — 60.7%

MOT results for 1971 Volkswagen 1302 S Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	59.8%	97	48,952	Suspension — 25.8%
2010	39	51.7%	89	45,800	Suspension — 27.0%
2011	40	53.4%	103	47,742	Suspension — 28.2%
2012	41	61.2%	98	49,219	Suspension — 24.5%
2013	42	60.6%	94	47,538	Brakes — 62.8%
2014	43	57.1%	91	48,733	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.7%
2015	44	62.4%	85	53,243	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.9%
2016	45	63.1%	84	45,870	Suspension — 60.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Volkswagen 1302 S Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

42.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

42.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

36.7%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

22.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

17.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	25.8% (38 yrs)	60.7% (45 yrs)	+34.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	16.5% (38 yrs)	46.4% (45 yrs)	+29.9%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	23.7% (38 yrs)	51.2% (45 yrs)	+27.5%	🔴 ↑
Steering	12.4% (38 yrs)	21.4% (45 yrs)	+9.0%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	15.5% (38 yrs)	14.3% (45 yrs)	-1.2%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1971

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1302 S Beetle cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 741 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.