Part of the Volkswagen Passat B7 (2010–2014) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Volkswagen Passat first registered in 2010 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 32,771 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

32,771MOTs of 2010 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 60%)
10,000typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel?

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    23.1% All 2010 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 2.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Suspension arm3.5× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    10.8% All 2010 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.4% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Engine warning light3× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    6% All 2010 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Sub-frame1.7× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    9% All 2010 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.3% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Side repeaters3.6× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    5.1% All 2010 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 0.9% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.3% here, against 6.5% of all 2010 cars. Engine oil leaks: 3.2% here, against 8.8% of all 2010 cars.

Common 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Suspension
    52% 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
    40% 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.

  • Brakes
    27% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    5% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Known faults on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel

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.

  • Accelerator that doesn’t respond

    All engines

    A faulty accelerator pedal or its wiring can stop the engine responding and turn on the EPC warning light.

    At the viewing: Make sure the EPC light goes out and the car responds smoothly to the pedal.

    Source: Haynes: VW Passat common problems (2005-2010)

  • Oil leak from the oil filter housing (diesel)

    Diesel

    The oil filter housing or its cover can leak on many diesels, leaving oil under the car.

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where it’s parked for oil.

    Source: Haynes: VW Passat common problems (2005-2010)

  • Electronic parking brake warning

    All engines

    The parking brake warning light can come on for no reason because of a faulty control unit.

    At the viewing: Apply and release the parking brake and make sure no warning stays on.

    Source: Haynes: VW Passat common problems (2005-2010)

  • Rattle from a worn engine mount (diesel)

    Diesel

    A faulty right-hand engine mount lets the engine move too much and rattle.

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks when pulling away and changing gear.

    Source: Haynes: VW Passat common problems (2005-2010)

  • Humming when cornering

    All engines

    Old gearbox oil can cause a hum from underneath on corners.

    At the viewing: Listen for humming on bends.

    Source: Haynes: VW Passat common problems (2005-2010)

  • Rattle from the air con compressor

    Cars with air con

    Play in the air con compressor pulley causes a rattle from the front of the engine. The fix needs the air con system draining and refilling.

    At the viewing: Listen at idle with the air con on and off.

    Source: Haynes: VW Passat common problems (2005-2010)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the engine warning light? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat diesel 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%
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%
20001,441Suspension 49%
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 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score