Volkswagen T-ROC common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Volkswagen T-ROC, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 221,440 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
Pick the year
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
What usually goes wrong with a Volkswagen T-ROC?
Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.
- Cars registered 2017–2018 · Built to June 2018
Parking brake software recall (built to June 2018)
Faulty software could let the electronic parking brake release by itself, and cars built up to June 2018 were recalled. Some owners also report the parking brake being slow to release.
At the viewing: Make sure the parking brake holds on a slope and releases cleanly, and ask for proof the recall was done.
Source: Auto Express: used Volkswagen T-Roc (Mk1, 2017 on) review
- Cars registered 2017–2025 · Diesel
Cambelt due (diesel)
The diesel’s cambelt is due every five years or 130,000 miles.
At the viewing: Ask for an invoice if it’s due.
Source: Auto Express: used Volkswagen T-Roc (Mk1, 2017 on) review
- Cars registered 2017–2019 · Early cars
Headrest and spoiler recalls
Other recalls covered faulty rear headrests and a rear spoiler whose halves could separate.
At the viewing: Ask a VW dealer to confirm the recalls were done.
Source: Auto Express: used Volkswagen T-Roc (Mk1, 2017 on) review
Common Volkswagen T-ROC MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.
Shock absorbers
up to 1.8× usualStands out on cars registered in 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Volkswagen T-ROC MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2019 Volkswagen T-ROC did best (91% passed first time, 6 points above all 2019 cars) and the 2023 did worst (94%, 2 points above all 2023 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volkswagen T-ROC
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has the parking brake software recall been done?
- Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the Volkswagen T-ROC as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Volkswagen T-ROC?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score