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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Beetle — Reliability by Year

91,014 vehicles · MOT data 1983–2018 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Volkswagen Beetle was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year
2018
87.8% pass rate · 923 vehicles
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Lowest pass rate year
1983
61.6% pass rate · 111 vehicles
Year Pass rate Avg mileage Vehicles
2018
87.8%
27,124 mi 923
2017
85.5%
31,266 mi 1,542
2016
83.2%
37,335 mi 2,304
2015
82.4%
41,122 mi 3,323
2014
81.5%
46,103 mi 3,776
2013
81.0%
51,280 mi 4,709
2012
80.2%
54,033 mi 2,407
2011
77.3%
53,286 mi 719
2010
76.1%
54,937 mi 2,336
2009
74.4%
59,084 mi 2,097
2008
73.8%
63,784 mi 3,001
2007
73.0%
65,367 mi 4,059
2006
73.7%
68,522 mi 5,099
2005
73.6%
69,701 mi 6,750
2004
72.1%
72,683 mi 9,028
2003
72.2%
74,668 mi 8,850
2002
72.3%
78,148 mi 7,714
2001
71.0%
79,881 mi 10,000
2000
69.1%
83,318 mi 10,204
1999
72.9%
76,807 mi 1,537
1998
69.9%
76,508 mi 274
1985
73.0%
44,953 mi 114
1984
66.9%
42,405 mi 137
1983
61.6%
53,112 mi 111

Which year Volkswagen Beetle is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 27,124 miles (newest year) to 83,318 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Volkswagen Beetle.

See the buying guide →

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