Used car guide

2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volkswagen Passat first registered in 2000 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 672 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

672MOTs of 2000 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
53%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 61%)
5,600typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Headlights2.8× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    21.1% All 2000 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 3.3% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.2× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    17.6% All 2000 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 2.5% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)3× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    13.8% All 2000 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 13.7%, against 4.5% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

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

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

  • Track rod ends2.5× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    11.9% All 2000 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 1.8% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Ball joint2.3× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    12.6% All 2000 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2.2% of all 2000 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 7% here, against 17.1% of all 2000 cars.

Common 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    45% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    45% 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.

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    26% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2000 Volkswagen Passat petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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
2023287Tyres 15%
20222,624Tyres 28%
20217,465Tyres 27%
202017,869Tyres 27%
201922,325Tyres 28%
201832,683Tyres 29%
201742,116Tyres 30%
201645,637Tyres 31%
201547,105Tyres 31%
201444,943Suspension 37%
201336,717Suspension 41%
201241,982Suspension 45%
201149,171Suspension 49%
201033,814Suspension 52%
200933,875Suspension 52%
200828,332Suspension 54%
200724,515Suspension 55%
200616,564Suspension 59%
200512,036Suspension 48%
20049,761Suspension 47%
20038,275Suspension 48%
20025,264Suspension 48%
20013,085Suspension 50%
19991,160Suspension 48%
1998835Suspension 47%
1997272Suspension 49%
1996155Brakes 49%
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 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score