Used car guide

2012 Volkswagen Touran: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Volkswagen Tourans, from 5,604 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,604MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
8,500typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Volkswagen Touran
    21.5% All 2012 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Link ball joint covers3.5× usual
    Volkswagen Touran
    8.8% All 2012 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 1.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm1.8× usual
    Volkswagen Touran
    4.6% All 2012 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Seat belts2.2× usual
    Volkswagen Touran
    2.8% All 2012 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

Better than most

Exhaust system: 0.6% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 2.1% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    46% 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.

  • Tyres
    37% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% 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
    8% 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 Touran?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021992Tyres 27%
20202,234Tyres 30%
20192,759Tyres 31%
20183,757Tyres 31%
20174,318Tyres 32%
20163,666Tyres 32%
20153,836Suspension 40%
20144,965Suspension 40%
20135,354Suspension 40%
20115,695Suspension 50%
20104,601Suspension 61%
20094,738Suspension 62%
20084,340Suspension 62%
20074,583Suspension 65%
20063,053Suspension 65%
20052,106Suspension 66%
20041,327Suspension 64%

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