Used car guide

2012 Volkswagen Amarok: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Volkswagen Amaroks, from 1,182 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,182MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
10,100typical miles a year
18.4×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Volkswagen Amaroks than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints18.4× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    9.2% All 2012 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.1% of all 2012 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.

  • Shock absorbers1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    12.6% All 2012 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.7% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Rear fog light7.4× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    5.9% All 2012 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 0.7% of all 2012 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.

  • Steering rack5.2× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    3.1% All 2012 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Brake discs: 4.1% here, against 14.2% of all 2012 cars. Tyre condition: 4.6% here, against 14.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    34% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    23% 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
    19% 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
    10% 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
    7% 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?

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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%
2011540Lights and electrics 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Volkswagen Amaroks registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score