Volkswagen up! common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Volkswagen up!, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 369,017 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
The 2024 Volkswagen up!
Cars registered in 2024 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Volkswagen up! as a whole.
What to check on a 2024 car
- Warranty left
Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.
- Servicing
Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.
- Finance
Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.
- Recalls
Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.
- Logbook (V5C)
The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.
Other years
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 up!?
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 2012–2023 · All engines
Power steering that pulls or cuts out
Some owners report the car pulling to one side, or the power steering stopping working.
At the viewing: Drive on a straight road and at low speed: the steering should feel steady and light.
- Cars registered 2012–2023 · 1.0 petrol
Timing belt on the 1.0
The 1.0 three-cylinder has a timing belt that needs replacing when it's due, a bill of up to about £500.
At the viewing: Look in the history for the timing belt change.
If it needs doing: Timing belt (cambelt) change, about £300–£700 (often with the water pump). ClickMechanic
- Cars registered 2012–2023 · All engines
Airbag, child-lock and sunroof recalls
Recalls covered airbags on cars built in 2013 to 2014, and child locks and sunroofs on some 2015 to 2016 cars.
At the viewing: Ask a VW dealer to check the VIN, and test the child locks.
Common Volkswagen up! 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.
Braking performance
up to 2.6× usualStands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Rough price £100–£350 our estimateAt the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.
Suspension arm bushes and joints
up to 2.3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)
up to 5.3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2016.
Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.
Sidelights
up to 2.8× usualStands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2016.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Number plates
up to 2.6× usualStands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.
Rough price £5–£40 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Volkswagen up! MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Volkswagen up! did best (75% passed first time, 11 points above all 2012 cars) and the 2016 did worst (78%, 1 point above all 2016 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 up!
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has the steering had any work?
- When was the timing belt last changed?
- Has all the recall work been done?
- Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Volkswagen up! as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the Volkswagen up! as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the Volkswagen up! as on other cars the same age.)
Looking at a Volkswagen up!?
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