What year Volkswagen Passat SE TDI is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2008 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI has the highest pass rate at 83.1%, out of 183 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Volkswagen Passat SE TDI MOT failures?

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

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Volkswagen Passat SE TDI — Reliability by Year

5,340 vehicles · MOT data 1997–2008 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Volkswagen Passat SE TDI 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

2008

83.1% pass rate · 183 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1997

72.4% pass rate · 314 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2008	83.1%	160,100 mi	183
2007	81.4%	153,248 mi	230
2006	74.3%	153,975 mi	200
2005	76.6%	161,332 mi	136
2004	75.9%	177,026 mi	324
2003	75.4%	180,006 mi	1,062
2002	77.2%	184,885 mi	939
2001	72.4%	179,497 mi	698
2000	76.7%	201,274 mi	271
1999	76.3%	213,268 mi	431
1998	75.1%	212,922 mi	552
1997	72.4%	158,924 mi	314

Which year Volkswagen Passat SE TDI is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 153,248 miles (newest year) to 213,268 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 Passat SE TDI.

See the buying guide →

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