Used car guide

2018 Volkswagen Amarok: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Volkswagen Amaroks, from 2,530 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,530MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
11,700typical miles a year
6.6×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Volkswagen Amaroks than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Engine oil leaks6.6× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    9.3% All 2018 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints21× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    4.2% All 2018 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0% of all 2018 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.

  • Engine warning light4.6× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    5.1% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1.1% of all 2018 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.

  • Windscreen2.5× usual
    Volkswagen Amarok
    4.9% All 2018 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5.2% here, against 13.9% of all 2018 cars.

By area

The share of 2018 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    20% 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
    17% 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.

  • Suspension
    12% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Volkswagen Amarok?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20201,570Tyres 19%
20192,951Brakes 19%
20172,086Brakes 23%
20162,353Suspension 24%
20152,608Suspension 28%
20142,131Suspension 31%
20131,756Suspension 31%
20121,182Suspension 34%
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 2018 Volkswagen Amaroks registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score