Part of the Volkswagen Passat B8 (2014–2023) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2017 Volkswagen Passat: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volkswagen Passat first registered in 2017: we looked at the 42,116 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

42,116MOTs of 2017 cars, done in 2023–2025
82%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
12,000typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for shock absorbers

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

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

  • Shock absorbers3.5× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    11% All 2017 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 0.5% of all 2017 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 2017 Volkswagen Passat MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Tyres
    30% 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
    20% 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
    15% 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
    6% 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
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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

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

Known faults on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat

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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Volkswagen Passat

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

  1. Has the steering had any work?
  2. When was the DSG oil changed?
  3. Has it been used for towing?
  4. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Passat?

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 Passat compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023303Tyres 14%
20222,641Tyres 28%
20217,471Tyres 27%
202017,869Tyres 27%
201922,325Tyres 28%
201832,683Tyres 29%
201645,648Tyres 31%
201547,117Tyres 31%
201444,943Suspension 37%
201336,717Suspension 41%
201241,982Suspension 45%
201149,171Suspension 49%
201033,814Suspension 52%
200933,877Suspension 52%
200828,334Suspension 54%
200724,515Suspension 55%
200616,565Suspension 59%
200512,036Suspension 48%
20049,761Suspension 47%
20038,277Suspension 48%
20025,264Suspension 48%
20013,085Suspension 50%
20001,441Suspension 49%
19991,160Suspension 48%
1998835Suspension 47%
1997272Suspension 49%
1996157Brakes 50%
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests

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 Passat cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score