1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for 412 Le/ls Variant models manufactured in 1979, based on 49 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant MOT Analysis
The 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant has an MOT pass rate of 38.8% based on 49 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 83,236 miles on the odometer. With a 61.2% failure rate, the 1979 412 Le/ls Variant is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant is Driver's View of the Road, responsible for 10.2% of failures. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs range from £100–400. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment is the second most common issue at 10.2%. Suspension follows at 4.1%.
Top failures specific to 1979 models only. The overall 412 Le/ls Variant page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Driver's View Of The Road | 10.2% | 5 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 10.2% | 5 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 2 |
| 4 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.0% | 1 |
| 5 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.0% | 1 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.0% | 1 |
| 7 | Brakes | 2.0% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 83,236 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 1.23 | 10.2% | 5 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.23 | 10.2% | 5 |
| Suspension | 0.49 | 4.1% | 2 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.25 | 2.0% | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 0.25 | 2.0% | 1 |
| Steering | 0.25 | 2.0% | 1 |
| Brakes | 0.25 | 2.0% | 1 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant has an MOT pass rate of 38.8% based on 49 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 83,236 miles on the odometer. With a 61.2% failure rate, the 1979 412 Le/ls Variant is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to driver's view of the road: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights. With an average mileage of 83,236 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Driver's View of the Road — 10.2% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 10.2% of MOT failures on 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant models. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.2% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 10.2% of MOT failures on 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 4.1% of failures
Suspension issues account for 4.1% of MOT failures on 1979 Volkswagen 412 Le/ls Variant models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.