The picture
Passat Sel Tdi S-A: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,848 MOT tests, the Passat Sel Tdi S-A returns 87.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A tyre with the cords showing and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 47,216, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
57 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 02
A tyre cords visible or damaged
54 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
47 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 04
A tyre seriously damaged
35 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 05
Wiper blade defective
24 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 06
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
18 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 07
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
16 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
A tyre seriously damaged
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£140–£235
If every one of this Passat Sel Tdi S A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Passat Sel Tdi S A?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Passat Sel Tdi S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.