Volkswagen Up MOT Failures
An analysis of 2,462,750 real DVSA MOT tests on the Volkswagen Up — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: AA (2012–2019), AA2 (2020–2024).
Where the Volkswagen Up fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Volkswagen Up is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... — this model is 38 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 2,462,750 MOT tests, 0.05% of all Volkswagen Up tests recorded this as a failure.
Bodywork failures usually mean structural corrosion — not cosmetic rust, but rot that affects the car's structural integrity. Check sills, subframes, and chassis rails carefully, especially on older examples.
Other notable weak points include coil springs broken (12x the fleet average), emissions failure (9.7x the fleet average), fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust sh... (17x the fleet average), and parking brake inefficient (8.0x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Volkswagen Up's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 4 categories: Bodywork, Brakes, Exhaust & Emissions, Lights & Electrics. If you're inspecting a Volkswagen Up before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Volkswagen Up's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Volkswagen Up specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (35x the average) and fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust sh... (17x). front or rear fog lamp emitted colour, position... (13x) and exhaust system damage (8.5x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Volkswagen Up specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (25x the average) and coil springs broken (8.7x). headlight fault (8.3x) and brake slack adjuster damaged, seized or having ... (6.9x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Volkswagen Up specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (14x the average) and coil springs broken (11x). service brake control has insufficient reserve ... (9.9x) and parking brake inefficient (6.1x) also appear frequently.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Volkswagen Up specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Brake actuator leakage Major
The Up experiences brake actuator leaks at up to 10.5 times the fleet average, particularly on higher-mileage examples. Affects AA, AA2; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£400.
Brake pedal travel excessive Major
The Up fails MOT tests for insufficient brake pedal reserve travel at 9.9 times the fleet average, with the highest failure rate on cars over 120,000 miles. Affects AA, AA2; typical independent garage repair cost is £100–£350.
Fuel filler cap and fuel system leaks
The Up shows an exceptionally high rate of fuel system leaks and filler cap issues, failing MOT tests at 28.4 times the national fleet average. Affects AA, AA2; typical independent garage repair cost is £25–£200.
Emissions system deterioration
The Up shows elevated emissions failures at up to This occurs across all mileage ranges including relatively new cars, with a worsening trend in recent years. Affects AA, AA2; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£400.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Volkswagen Up common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Up
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Volkswagen Up:
Bodywork — check for fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ..., fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust sh.... Brakes — check for coil springs broken, parking brake inefficient, service brake control has insufficient reserve .... Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about brake actuator leakage and brake pedal travel excessive. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £150. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Volkswagen Up?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Volkswagen Up MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Up?
Based on 2,462,750 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... — at 38x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include coil springs broken and emissions failure.
Is the Volkswagen Up reliable based on MOT data?
The Volkswagen Up has 13 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag brake actuator leakage as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Volkswagen Up most commonly fails on fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... and coil springs broken. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... and fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust sh....
How do I check a Volkswagen Up's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.