1,127 tests in 2025
Volkswagen Corrado reliability and MOT pass rate
76.1% passed first time. The 23.9% fail rate is 1.3 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 31 years old with 132,971 miles.
Pass rate
76.1%
22.6% of all cars failed; 23.9% of these did.
Fixed on the day
3.4%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
132,971 mi
31 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 0 | — |
| 6-9 years | 0 | — |
| 10-13 years | 0 | — |
| 14+ years | 1,127 | 23.9% |
What the Corrado fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Brakes29 dangerous46.5%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment1 dangerous40.9%
- Suspension9 dangerous33.1%
- Noise, emissions and leaks24.9%
- Body, chassis, structure8 dangerous22.7%
- Visibility18.2%
- Steering13%
- Tyres21 dangerous7.4%
Is the Corrado getting worse?
The fail rate fell 2.8 points to 23.8% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years, which is about what ageing alone predicts (-0.3 points). Read it as the fleet getting older rather than the model changing.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,361 | 28 | 26.6% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 1,314 | 29 | 23% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 1,082 | 30 | 21.8% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 1,126 | 31 | 23.8% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Corrado at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a Corrado in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively31 tests
- 2Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements29 tests
- 3Service brake imbalance: across an axle25 tests
- 4Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength23 tests
- 5Wheel bearings: has excessive play22 tests
- 6Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt20 tests
- 7Horn: not working19 tests
- 8Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits19 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Corrado collects 3.6 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine174 tests
- 2Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded162 tests
- 3Wheel bearings: has excessive play119 tests
- 4Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened84 tests
- 5Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn84 tests
- 6Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm63 tests
- 7Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases59 tests
- 8Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure51 tests
Questions
What is the Volkswagen Corrado MOT pass rate?
76.1% of the 1,127 Volkswagen Corrado first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 23.9% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 3.4% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Volkswagen Corrado usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively", recorded on 31 failed tests, followed by "Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements" and "Service brake imbalance: across an axle". By section, brakes appears in 46.5% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 40.9% of failures, suspension appears in 33.1% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was n/a%; at 14+ years it was 23.9%. The median Volkswagen Corrado tested in 2025 was 31 years old with 132,971 miles.
Is the Volkswagen Corrado getting less reliable?
The fail rate fell 2.8 points to 23.8% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years, which is about what ageing alone predicts (-0.3 points). Read it as the fleet getting older rather than the model changing.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every Corrado trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 3 safety recalls naming the Volkswagen Corrado: Volkswagen Corrado recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
Checking a particular Corrado?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.