Volkswagen Beetle: reliability by registration year
2000-2018 · 19 registration years · 37,521 first tests
Registration years
First-attempt MOT results for every Beetle registration year with at least 500 first tests in 2025. Pass rates rise with newer cars, so read a year against its neighbours rather than against the top of the table.
| Year | First tests | First-attempt pass | Incl. PRS | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 869 | 80.8% | 83.3% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 32.5% |
| about 9 in every 100 better than the years either side. What most often failed a 2018 Beetle: Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) (32.5%) | ||||
| 2017 | 1,472 | 72.1% | 75.6% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 21.2% |
| 2016 | 2,215 | 71.6% | 74.5% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 22.5% |
| 2015 | 3,150 | 67.7% | 70.8% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 20.2% |
| 2014 | 3,485 | 66.2% | 69.6% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 18.4% |
| 2013 | 4,296 | 65.4% | 69.2% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 17.2% |
| 2012 | 2,181 | 64.9% | 68.0% | Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) 20.9% |
| about 6 in every 100 better than the years either side. What most often failed a 2012 Beetle: Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) (20.9%) · Drive shaft joints and boots (front) (19.1%) · Rear fog light (14.1%) | ||||
| 2011 | 621 | 53.1% | 61.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,925 | 52.8% | 60.4% | Petrol engine warning light 10.3% |
| 2009 | 1,575 | 51.6% | 58.8% | Track rod end (front) 13.3% |
| 2008 | 1,998 | 47.8% | 54.7% | Individual sidelight or tail light (front) 13.4% |
| 2007 | 2,349 | 45.7% | 51.9% | Suspension mounting area (rear) 14.7% |
| 2006 | 2,329 | 47.8% | 55.3% | Suspension mounting area (rear) 15.1% |
| 2005 | 2,364 | 51.2% | 58.5% | Petrol engine warning light 13.1% |
| 2004 | 2,601 | 47.0% | 55.0% | Petrol engine warning light 14.3% |
| 2003 | 1,933 | 48.3% | 56.2% | Petrol engine warning light 15.4% |
| 2002 | 910 | 50.1% | 57.4% | Headlight aim 16.8% |
| 2001 | 740 | 51.6% | 58.0% | Petrol emissions (with catalyst) 18.0% |
| 2000 | 508 | 46.9% | 54.3% | |