Used car guide

2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volkswagen Jetta first registered in 2010 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 402 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 402 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

402MOTs of 2010 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
67%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 60%)
6,000typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    8% All 2010 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.5% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Common 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    26% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Known faults on the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol

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.

  • Timing chain wear (1.2 TSI petrol)

    1.2 TSI petrol (older engine)

    The older 1.2 TSI petrol uses a timing chain that can stretch. It starts as a rattle, especially when the engine first starts, and if it’s left the chain can fail and destroy the engine. Some garages advise changing it as often as every four years or 40,000 miles.

    At the viewing: Start the engine from cold and listen for a rattle in the first few seconds. Ask whether the chain has been changed, with an invoice.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Polo (2009-2017) used review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol

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

  1. Has the timing chain been changed, and is there an invoice? Does it rattle when you start it from cold?
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Jetta?

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 Jetta compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2018–Too few tests
20171,046Tyres 27%
20162,272Tyres 28%
20153,337Tyres 29%
20142,923Suspension 34%
20133,127Suspension 37%
20123,487Suspension 41%
20112,697Suspension 43%
20093,145Suspension 46%
20084,660Suspension 49%
20076,177Suspension 50%
20064,371Suspension 48%
2005–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991173Brakes 35%
1990158Suspension 25%
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
1980–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 Jetta cars first registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score