Volkswagen Bluebird MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 176 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 25.6%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Volkswagen Bluebird MOT Reliability Overview
The Volkswagen Bluebird is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 176 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.4% and a failure rate of 25.6%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Volkswagen Bluebird earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Volkswagen Bluebird presents for MOT with approximately 80,504 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2010 models achieve the highest pass rate at 78.4%, while 2009 models have the lowest at 60.0%. This 18.4 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Volkswagen Bluebird is Suspension, affecting 22.7% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Brakes at 15.3%. Noise, emissions and leaks rounds out the top three at 7.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.7% | 40 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 12.5% | 22 |
| 4 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 7.4% | 13 |
| 5 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 5.1% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 9 |
| 7 | Visibility | 4.5% | 8 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 3.4% | 6 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.3% | 4 |
| 10 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.3% | 4 |
| 11 | Steering | 1.7% | 3 |
| 12 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.1% | 2 |
| 13 | Driving Controls And Speed Limiters | 1.1% | 2 |
| 14 | Non-component Advisories | 0.6% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 80,504 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 2.82 | 22.7% | 40 |
| Brakes | 2.05 | 16.5% | 29 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.56 | 12.5% | 22 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.92 | 7.4% | 13 |
| Body & Structure | 0.92 | 7.4% | 13 |
| Tyres | 0.64 | 5.1% | 9 |
| Visibility | 0.56 | 4.5% | 8 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.42 | 3.4% | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 0.28 | 2.3% | 4 |
| Steering | 0.21 | 1.7% | 3 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.14 | 1.1% | 2 |
| Driving Controls and Speed Limiters | 0.14 | 1.1% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.07 | 0.6% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Volkswagen Bluebird has 80,504 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Volkswagen Bluebird has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.18% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Volkswagen Bluebird MOT Data
The Volkswagen Bluebird is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 176 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.4% and a failure rate of 25.6%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Volkswagen Bluebird owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Bluebird is likely to perform.
Suspension — 22.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 22.7% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Bluebird. 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.
Brakes — 15.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 15.3% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Bluebird. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Noise, emissions and leaks — 7.4% of failures
Noise, emissions and leaks issues account for 7.4% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Bluebird. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Bluebird?
Based on 176 MOT tests in our database, the Volkswagen Bluebird has an overall pass rate of 74.4% (25.6% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Bluebird?
The top 3 reasons a Volkswagen Bluebird fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (22.7%), 2. Brakes (15.3%), 3. Noise, emissions and leaks (7.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Volkswagen Bluebird reliable?
With a 25.6% MOT failure rate, the Bluebird is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Volkswagen Bluebird?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (22.7%); Brakes (15.3%); Noise, emissions and leaks (7.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.