1988 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

78.0%

Latest Pass Rate

758

Total Tests (All Years)

134,524 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 1988 Volkswagen Jetta as it ages.

21 yrs39.5%

→ ↑7.5%

22 yrs47.0%

→ ↑8.4%

23 yrs55.4%

→ ↓0.6%

24 yrs54.8%

→ ↑7.0%

25 yrs61.8%

→ ↓4.7%

26 yrs57.1%

→ ↑7.6%

27 yrs64.7%

→ ↓1.1%

28 yrs63.6%

→ ↑0.7%

29 yrs64.3%

→ ↓3.7%

33 yrs60.6%

→ ↑17.4%

36 yrs78.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	39.5%	147
22 yrs	47.0%	115
23 yrs	55.4%	83
24 yrs	54.8%	73
25 yrs	61.8%	55
26 yrs	57.1%	56
27 yrs	64.7%	51
28 yrs	63.6%	44
29 yrs	64.3%	42
33 yrs	60.6%	33
36 yrs	78.0%	59

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Volkswagen Jetta pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	78%	59
2021 (33 yrs)	60.6%	33
2017 (29 yrs)	64.3%	42
2016 (28 yrs)	63.6%	44
2015 (27 yrs)	64.7%	51
2014 (26 yrs)	57.1%	56
2013 (25 yrs)	61.8%	55
2012 (24 yrs)	54.8%	73
2011 (23 yrs)	55.4%	83
2010 (22 yrs)	47%	115
2009 (21 yrs)	39.5%	147

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

39.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 147Avg Mileage 111,390Top Failure Brakes — 39.5%

2010High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 115Avg Mileage 116,082Top Failure Suspension — 35.7%

2011High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 83Avg Mileage 117,941Top Failure Suspension — 27.7%

2012High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 73Avg Mileage 121,780Top Failure Suspension — 28.8%

2013High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 55Avg Mileage 115,269Top Failure Suspension — 72.7%

2014High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 56Avg Mileage 124,005Top Failure Brakes — 116.1%

2015High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 51Avg Mileage 125,385Top Failure Suspension — 80.4%

2016High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 44Avg Mileage 126,228Top Failure Brakes — 54.5%

2017High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 42Avg Mileage 128,013Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%

2021High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 33Avg Mileage 132,886Top Failure Suspension — 87.9%

2024

78.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 59Avg Mileage 134,524Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 61.0%

MOT results for 1988 Volkswagen Jetta by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	39.5%	147	111,390	Brakes — 39.5%
2010	22	47.0%	115	116,082	Suspension — 35.7%
2011	23	55.4%	83	117,941	Suspension — 27.7%
2012	24	54.8%	73	121,780	Suspension — 28.8%
2013	25	61.8%	55	115,269	Suspension — 72.7%
2014	26	57.1%	56	124,005	Brakes — 116.1%
2015	27	64.7%	51	125,385	Suspension — 80.4%
2016	28	63.6%	44	126,228	Brakes — 54.5%
2017	29	64.3%	42	128,013	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%
2021	33	60.6%	33	132,886	Suspension — 87.9%
2024	36	78.0%	59	134,524	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 61.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Volkswagen Jetta, with age trends.

Suspension

52.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

50.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

49.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

31.1%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	39.5% (21 yrs)	44.1% (36 yrs)	+4.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Jetta page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Jetta cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 758 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.