Used car guide

2018 Volkswagen Arteon: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Volkswagen Arteons, from 2,039 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,039MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
9,200typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

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

  • Shock absorbers3× usual
    Volkswagen Arteon
    8.6% All 2018 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.5% of all 2018 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.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Brakes
    18% 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.

  • Suspension
    11% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Volkswagen Arteon?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,871Tyres 26%
20211,483Tyres 25%
20201,434Tyres 25%
20192,271Tyres 29%
2017520Tyres 24%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Volkswagen Arteons registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score