1989 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

67.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,323

Total Tests (All Years)

116,142 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 1989 Volkswagen Jetta as it ages.

20 yrs50.0%

→ ↓2.1%

21 yrs47.9%

→ ↑3.1%

22 yrs51.0%

→ ↓6.8%

23 yrs44.2%

→ ↑6.3%

24 yrs50.5%

→ ↓5.0%

25 yrs45.5%

→ ↑13.6%

26 yrs59.1%

→ ↓20.6%

27 yrs38.5%

→ ↑5.6%

28 yrs44.1%

→ ↑26.5%

30 yrs70.6%

→ ↓7.0%

31 yrs63.6%

→ ↑6.2%

32 yrs69.8%

→ ↑2.9%

33 yrs72.7%

→ ↓7.8%

34 yrs64.9%

→ ↑2.2%

35 yrs67.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	50.0%	260
21 yrs	47.9%	192
22 yrs	51.0%	145
23 yrs	44.2%	120
24 yrs	50.5%	93
25 yrs	45.5%	77
26 yrs	59.1%	66
27 yrs	38.5%	52
28 yrs	44.1%	59
30 yrs	70.6%	34
31 yrs	63.6%	33
32 yrs	69.8%	43
33 yrs	72.7%	33
34 yrs	64.9%	37
35 yrs	67.1%	79

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Volkswagen Jetta pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	67.1%	79
2023 (34 yrs)	64.9%	37
2022 (33 yrs)	72.7%	33
2021 (32 yrs)	69.8%	43
2020 (31 yrs)	63.6%	33
2019 (30 yrs)	70.6%	34
2017 (28 yrs)	44.1%	59
2016 (27 yrs)	38.5%	52
2015 (26 yrs)	59.1%	66
2014 (25 yrs)	45.5%	77
2013 (24 yrs)	50.5%	93
2012 (23 yrs)	44.2%	120
2011 (22 yrs)	51%	145
2010 (21 yrs)	47.9%	192
2009 (20 yrs)	50%	260

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 260Avg Mileage 104,757Top Failure Brakes — 30.8%

2010High Fail Rate

47.9%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 192Avg Mileage 111,618Top Failure Suspension — 28.6%

2011High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 145Avg Mileage 109,782Top Failure Suspension — 33.1%

2012High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 120Avg Mileage 120,450Top Failure Suspension — 40.8%

2013High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 93Avg Mileage 110,539Top Failure Brakes — 91.4%

2014High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 77Avg Mileage 113,277Top Failure Brakes — 94.8%

2015High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 66Avg Mileage 115,558Top Failure Brakes — 60.6%

2016High Fail Rate

38.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 52Avg Mileage 115,310Top Failure Suspension — 94.2%

2017High Fail Rate

44.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 59Avg Mileage 107,622Top Failure Suspension — 81.4%

2019

70.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 34Avg Mileage 133,606Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2020High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 33Avg Mileage 110,324Top Failure Brakes — 112.1%

2021

69.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 43Avg Mileage 117,998Top Failure Brakes — 65.1%

2022

72.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 33Avg Mileage 100,607Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 63.6%

2023High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 37Avg Mileage 115,744Top Failure Tyres — 62.2%

2024

67.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 79Avg Mileage 116,142Top Failure Brakes — 58.2%

MOT results for 1989 Volkswagen Jetta by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	50.0%	260	104,757	Brakes — 30.8%
2010	21	47.9%	192	111,618	Suspension — 28.6%
2011	22	51.0%	145	109,782	Suspension — 33.1%
2012	23	44.2%	120	120,450	Suspension — 40.8%
2013	24	50.5%	93	110,539	Brakes — 91.4%
2014	25	45.5%	77	113,277	Brakes — 94.8%
2015	26	59.1%	66	115,558	Brakes — 60.6%
2016	27	38.5%	52	115,310	Suspension — 94.2%
2017	28	44.1%	59	107,622	Suspension — 81.4%
2019	30	70.6%	34	133,606	Suspension — 50.0%
2020	31	63.6%	33	110,324	Brakes — 112.1%
2021	32	69.8%	43	117,998	Brakes — 65.1%
2022	33	72.7%	33	100,607	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 63.6%
2023	34	64.9%	37	115,744	Tyres — 62.2%
2024	35	67.1%	79	116,142	Brakes — 58.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Volkswagen Jetta, with age trends.

Brakes

57.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

53.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

40.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.5%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

29.9%

↑ Increases 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	30.8% (20 yrs)	58.2% (35 yrs)	+27.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	28.8% (20 yrs)	36.7% (35 yrs)	+7.9%	🔴 ↑

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,323 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.