Volkswagen California MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Volkswagen California MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Volkswagen California passed on its first attempt in 83.1%, and its overall record sits +4.4 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Volkswagen California in the 2023–2025 data: 28,305 tests across 16 model years (2005–2020). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Volkswagen California MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Volkswagen California, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Volkswagen California's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Volkswagen California DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Volkswagen California, each with how many of the model's 28,305 tests it was noted on.

• "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 909 Volkswagen California tests, 3.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 842 Volkswagen California tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 735 Volkswagen California tests, 2.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault" (Major) — noted on about 445 Volkswagen California tests, 1.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords" (Major) — noted on about 370 Volkswagen California tests, 1.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 178 Volkswagen California tests, 0.6% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Volkswagen California Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Volkswagen California model year on record is 2020 (90.0% across 350 tests), and the weakest is 2005 (72.6%). The gap between them is 17.4 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Volkswagen California reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 1.2 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Volkswagen California Owners

These checks follow this Volkswagen California's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Volkswagen California.

• the coil springs — “coil spring fractured or broken”

  Look up inside each wheel arch with a torch, all the way round the spring. A snapped spring usually breaks at the very bottom coil, where a quick glance will not reach.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

• the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Volkswagen California. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Volkswagen California MOT & Reliability