1997 Volkswagen Passat — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

76.7%

Latest Pass Rate

39,532

Total Tests (All Years)

149,980 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 1997 Volkswagen Passat as it ages.

12 yrs39.1%

→ ↑1.1%

13 yrs40.2%

→ ↓0.5%

14 yrs39.7%

→ ↑1.1%

15 yrs40.8%

→ ↓0.5%

16 yrs40.3%

→ ↑3.4%

17 yrs43.7%

→ ↑1.7%

18 yrs45.4%

→ ↑3.1%

19 yrs48.5%

→ ↑1.1%

20 yrs49.6%

→ ↑0.3%

21 yrs49.9%

→ ↑2.5%

22 yrs52.4%

→ ↑1.4%

23 yrs53.8%

→ ↑3.3%

24 yrs57.1%

→ ↑1.6%

25 yrs58.7%

→ ↑1.3%

26 yrs60.0%

→ ↑16.7%

27 yrs76.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	39.1%	9,591
13 yrs	40.2%	7,939
14 yrs	39.7%	6,367
15 yrs	40.8%	4,701
16 yrs	40.3%	3,366
17 yrs	43.7%	2,429
18 yrs	45.4%	1,707
19 yrs	48.5%	1,227
20 yrs	49.6%	800
21 yrs	49.9%	381
22 yrs	52.4%	273
23 yrs	53.8%	197
24 yrs	57.1%	184
25 yrs	58.7%	126
26 yrs	60.0%	115
27 yrs	76.7%	129

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volkswagen Passat pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	76.7%	129
2023 (26 yrs)	60%	115
2022 (25 yrs)	58.7%	126
2021 (24 yrs)	57.1%	184
2020 (23 yrs)	53.8%	197
2019 (22 yrs)	52.4%	273
2018 (21 yrs)	49.9%	381
2017 (20 yrs)	49.6%	800
2016 (19 yrs)	48.5%	1,227
2015 (18 yrs)	45.4%	1,707
2014 (17 yrs)	43.7%	2,429
2013 (16 yrs)	40.3%	3,366
2012 (15 yrs)	40.8%	4,701
2011 (14 yrs)	39.7%	6,367
2010 (13 yrs)	40.2%	7,939
2009 (12 yrs)	39.1%	9,591

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

39.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 9,591Avg Mileage 129,187Top Failure Suspension — 41.4%

2010High Fail Rate

40.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 7,939Avg Mileage 134,842Top Failure Suspension — 42.8%

2011High Fail Rate

39.7%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 6,367Avg Mileage 139,441Top Failure Suspension — 44.7%

2012High Fail Rate

40.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 4,701Avg Mileage 143,101Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%

2013High Fail Rate

40.3%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,366Avg Mileage 145,962Top Failure Suspension — 100.4%

2014High Fail Rate

43.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,429Avg Mileage 149,295Top Failure Suspension — 95.9%

2015High Fail Rate

45.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,707Avg Mileage 152,375Top Failure Suspension — 88.4%

2016High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,227Avg Mileage 153,344Top Failure Suspension — 83.5%

2017High Fail Rate

49.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 800Avg Mileage 153,293Top Failure Suspension — 79.3%

2018High Fail Rate

49.9%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 381Avg Mileage 154,924Top Failure Suspension — 81.9%

2019High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 273Avg Mileage 150,881Top Failure Suspension — 68.9%

2020High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 197Avg Mileage 150,819Top Failure Suspension — 57.9%

2021High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 184Avg Mileage 148,571Top Failure Suspension — 72.8%

2022High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 126Avg Mileage 147,793Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.1%

2023High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 115Avg Mileage 151,169Top Failure Suspension — 68.7%

2024

76.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 129Avg Mileage 149,980Top Failure Suspension — 45.0%

MOT results for 1997 Volkswagen Passat by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	39.1%	9,591	129,187	Suspension — 41.4%
2010	13	40.2%	7,939	134,842	Suspension — 42.8%
2011	14	39.7%	6,367	139,441	Suspension — 44.7%
2012	15	40.8%	4,701	143,101	Suspension — 43.8%
2013	16	40.3%	3,366	145,962	Suspension — 100.4%
2014	17	43.7%	2,429	149,295	Suspension — 95.9%
2015	18	45.4%	1,707	152,375	Suspension — 88.4%
2016	19	48.5%	1,227	153,344	Suspension — 83.5%
2017	20	49.6%	800	153,293	Suspension — 79.3%
2018	21	49.9%	381	154,924	Suspension — 81.9%
2019	22	52.4%	273	150,881	Suspension — 68.9%
2020	23	53.8%	197	150,819	Suspension — 57.9%
2021	24	57.1%	184	148,571	Suspension — 72.8%
2022	25	58.7%	126	147,793	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.1%
2023	26	60.0%	115	151,169	Suspension — 68.7%
2024	27	76.7%	129	149,980	Suspension — 45.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volkswagen Passat, with age trends.

Suspension

67.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

57.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

51.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

50.3%

— Consistent

Tyres

28.0%

↑ 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
Steering	13.8% (12 yrs)	9.3% (27 yrs)	-4.5%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	41.4% (12 yrs)	45.0% (27 yrs)	+3.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	30.9% (12 yrs)	29.5% (27 yrs)	-1.4%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Passat cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 39,532 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.