Used car guide

2017 Volkswagen Beetle: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volkswagen Beetle first registered in 2017: we looked at the 1,520 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,520MOTs of 2017 cars, done in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
5,500typical miles a year
24.7×the usual rate for rear fog light

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Rear fog light24.7× usual
    Volkswagen Beetle
    7.4% All 2017 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.4%, against 0.3% of all 2017 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Volkswagen Beetle
    11.8% All 2017 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 0.9% of all 2017 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.

  • Coil springs2× usual
    Volkswagen Beetle
    5.8% All 2017 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Common 2017 Volkswagen Beetle MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Volkswagen Beetle MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    20% 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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
    13% 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
    6% 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
    2% 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.

Known faults on the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Starter motor overheating and emissions fix (diesel)

    Diesel

    Diesels with stop-start built March to November 2011 were recalled for starter motors that could overheat, and diesels needed the NOx emissions update.

    At the viewing: Ask whether the emissions work was done.

    Source: What Car?: used Volkswagen Beetle (2012-2018) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle

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

  1. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 24.7× as often on the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Beetle?

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 Beetle compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2018893Tyres 28%
20162,288Tyres 28%
20153,262Tyres 31%
20143,602Suspension 34%
20134,448Suspension 33%
20122,280Suspension 35%
2011663Lights and electrics 41%
20102,034Suspension 44%
20091,681Suspension 51%
20082,126Suspension 54%
20072,540Suspension 52%
20062,509Suspension 52%
20052,507Suspension 46%
20042,794Suspension 50%
20032,067Suspension 53%
2002971Suspension 52%
2001795Suspension 49%
2000538Suspension 53%
1999–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–Too few tests
1974–Too few tests
1973–Too few tests
1972–Too few tests
1971–Too few tests
1970–Too few tests
1969–Too few tests
1968–Too few tests
1967–Too few tests
1966–Too few tests
1965–Too few tests
1964–Too few tests
1963–Too few tests
1962–Too few tests
1961–Too few tests
1960–Too few tests
1959–Too few tests
1958–Too few tests
1956–Too few tests
1955–Too few tests
1954–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Beetle cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score