Used car guide

2021 Volkswagen ID3 Life: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Lifes, from 5,746 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,746MOT tests in 2025
90%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,500typical miles a year
27%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Life 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
    3% 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.

  • 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    3% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Volkswagen ID3 Life?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,987Tyres 29%
20201,283Tyres 26%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Lifes registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score