Used car guide

2011 Volkswagen Amarok: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Volkswagen Amaroks, from 540 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

540MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
9,700typical miles a year
9×the usual rate for rear fog light

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Volkswagen Amaroks than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Rear fog light9× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    8.1% All 2011 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 0.8% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints9.3× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    6.5% All 2011 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Chassis rust or damage5.7× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    5.7% All 2011 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Brake discs: 4.6% here, against 14.5% of all 2011 cars. Tyre condition: 5.6% here, against 14.9% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    28% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    24% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    21% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    10% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volkswagen Amarok?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20201,570Tyres 19%
20192,951Brakes 19%
20182,530Brakes 20%
20172,086Brakes 23%
20162,353Suspension 24%
20152,608Suspension 28%
20142,131Suspension 31%
20131,756Suspension 31%
20121,182Suspension 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Volkswagen Amaroks registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score