Model Reports 8 min read Updated 11 Sep 2026 DVSA open data · 6,617 tests analysed

Volkswagen T-Cross 2019: reliability & common MOT faults

1,092 first-attempt MOT failures were recorded on the 2019 Volkswagen T-Cross in 2025. The items recorded most often on them were Track rod end (front) and Tyres — Condition (rear). Figures are among first-attempt failed MOT tests, not among all tests.

2019 T-Cross break the T-Cross's own run — at 83.5% they land 3.6 pp below the 2020 cars next to them.

First-attempt pass

83.5%

of 6,617 first tests (2025)

First tests

6,617

test year 2025

Failed first attempts

1,092

failed first-attempt tests

Most common fail

19.0%

Track rod end (front)

MOT pass rates

First-attempt and official-style rates among class 4 first tests of the year.

First-attempt pass

83.5%

of 6,617 first tests (2025)

Official-style pass

85.1%

incl. same-day PRS fixes

First tests

6,617

class 4 · first MOT of the year

Typical age 6.0 yrs · median mileage 35,800 mi

vs 2024: -3.9 pp first-attempt

Note:

  • Class 4 cars · first MOT of the year per vehicle · P/PRS/F outcomes (2025 data).
  • PRS (fixed at the station the same day) counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate.
  • Raw outcomes for this cohort — not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix.
  • MOT doesn't test engine or gearbox internals.

Common faults

Failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars.

These MOT failure patterns show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age, and mileage.

Shares below are measured across the 1,092 failed first attempts in 2025 that the age-and-mileage comparison can be computed on.

Standout: Track rod end (front) — 19.0% of this year's failed first attempts

Recorded on 207 of those tests. It tops the table on elevation — about 8.6× more often than on similar cars of the same age and mileage. On this year it is also the commonest failure, so it answers both questions at once. The full ranked list is in the table below.

Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Front 207 ×8.6 19.0% Strong
Rear fog lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
 Rear 38 ×6.4 3.5% Likely
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
 Rear 68 ×3.0 6.2% Possible
Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
 Rear 24 ×2.3 2.2% Possible

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and about 2.0× more often than similar cars).

Note: Rates and comparisons are among first-attempt failed tests, not all MOTs. Patterns come from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer service bulletins, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Failures and advisories are listed separately.

Wear patterns

Usage and mileage effects that often track road use rather than model design.

These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use.

Pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
 Rear 59 ×4.0 5.4% Wear
Note: These patterns are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

This year underperforms the T-Cross's own age curve. If the years listed below are in budget, they are the stronger buy on this evidence.

What to check on a 2019 T-Cross

The items that failed 2019 T-Cross most often, as a share of the year's failed first attempts. This is what goes wrong, not what is unusual — the table further up the page covers that.

  • Track rod end (front) — recorded on 19.0% of failed first attempts
  • Tyres — Condition (rear) — recorded on 14.5% of failed first attempts
  • Brake pads (front) — recorded on 11.6% of failed first attempts
  • Coil spring (rear) — recorded on 6.2% of failed first attempts
  • Tread depth (front) — recorded on 6.0% of failed first attempts

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

2019 T-Cross break the T-Cross's own run — at 83.5% they land 3.6 pp below the 2020 cars next to them. In 2025, 83.5% of 6,617 first MOTs on the 2019 Volkswagen T-Cross passed first time (PRS — items fixed at the station the same day — counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 85.1%. Among 1,092 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Track rod end (front) appears more often than on simil…
Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that failed 2019 Volkswagen T-Crosss most often at the first attempt were Track rod end (front) (19.0%), Tyres — Condition (rear) (14.5%) and Brake pads (front) (11.6%) — each as a share of the year's failed first attempts. That is what goes wrong on the car. It is a different question from which patterns are unusual for the class, which the common-faults ta…
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Track rod end (front) (19.0% of those tests; 207 observed failures; about 8.6× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Track rod end (front) shows up more often than on similar cars (19.0% of those tests; 207 observed failures; about 8.6× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault — age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2019 Volkswagen T-Cross include Track rod end (front), Rear fog lamp (rear), Coil spring (rear). These patterns show up more often than on similar cars after we filter out sparse noise — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2019 Volkswagen T-Cross (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars — not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics — this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces — but does not remove — differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • We never invent pass rates, star scores, or ranks when those data marts are missing.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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