What year Volkswagen California is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2019 Volkswagen California has the highest pass rate at 91.1%, out of 1,145 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Volkswagen California MOT failures?

The most common Volkswagen California MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Volkswagen California — Reliability by Year

8,256 vehicles · MOT data 2010–2020 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Volkswagen California 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

2019

91.1% pass rate · 1,145 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

2010

82.3% pass rate · 342 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2020	90.3%	22,284 mi	115
2019	91.1%	27,421 mi	1,145
2018	90.1%	30,362 mi	1,180
2017	89.5%	36,405 mi	1,319
2016	87.7%	40,664 mi	860
2015	87.1%	41,254 mi	921
2014	85.5%	46,860 mi	759
2013	85.5%	48,661 mi	608
2012	83.0%	49,630 mi	605
2011	83.5%	51,977 mi	402
2010	82.3%	54,099 mi	342

Which year Volkswagen California 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 22,284 miles (newest year) to 54,099 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 California.

See the buying guide →

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