Used car guide

2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volkswagen Arteon first registered in 2021 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 1,545 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,545MOTs of 2021 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
89%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
9,200typical miles a year
4.3×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Shock absorbers4.3× usual
    Volkswagen Arteon
    6% All 2021 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2021 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.

Common 2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% 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
    13% 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
    6% 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
    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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Arteon?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volkswagen Arteon compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
20221,943Tyres 26%
20204,342Tyres 27%
20196,829Tyres 28%
20186,133Tyres 27%
20171,570Tyres 26%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Arteon cars first registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score