Used car guide · 2006–2012

Volkswagen Fox common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volkswagen Fox, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 77,301 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

77,301MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
11,619on the UK register
2006best year at its MOT

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).

2012201120102009200820072006

What usually goes wrong with a Volkswagen Fox?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Volkswagen Fox in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Volkswagen Fox 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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Washers

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Volkswagen Fox MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Volkswagen Fox did best (53% passed first time, 3 points below all 2006 cars) and the 2010 did worst (52%, 8 points below all 2010 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201264%64% +0258 (small sample)
201157%62% -56,958
201052%60% -822,072
200952%59% -713,955
200849%57% -812,664
200750%57% -713,723
200653%56% -37,671

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volkswagen Fox

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

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Volkswagen Fox as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 6× as often on the Volkswagen Fox as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Volkswagen Fox as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Fox?

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