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Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) (2020-present) reliability

At a glance

Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) built around 2022: more dangerous faults than average

Testers find a dangerous fault on Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) models built around 2022 more often than on similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Looking at a Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

6% of MOT tests on Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) models built around 2022 found a fault the tester marked as dangerous, against 3% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) models built around 2022 involves the tyres.

Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen)
No reliability rating: too close to call between ratings2020-presentHatchbackELECTRICITY

Based on 1,215 tests of ID.3 models registered 2020+.

About 1 in 8 electricity ID.3 cars registered in 2022 (11.9%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 1,417 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

About 1 in 75 ID.3 E1 (1st gen) MOTs (1.3%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2022 (3 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 1,215 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 20 ID.3 E1 (1st gen) MOTs (5.6%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2022 (3 years old).

Based on 1,215 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

E1 (1st gen) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
1,21510.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

How the ID.3 E1 (1st gen) compares

At each age below, see how the ID.3 E1 (1st gen) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 172,599 tests across 39 Volkswagen models, built around 2022 (3 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateVolkswagen average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
1,21510.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Independent inspection

High priority

Have an independent specialist inspect the car before you commit.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Brakes

Worth checking

Inspect the brakes carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Headlight aim

If you have time

Park facing a wall at night and check the beam pattern is even and at the right height.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the ID.3 E1 (1st gen).

  1. 1

    Suzuki SX4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7%

    Lower fail rate: 7.0%, against 10.7% for the Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen), both built around 2022.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,689 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

  2. 2

    Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.6%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    35,996 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

  3. 3

    Mazda 2

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.4%
    Dangerous
    2.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.2%

    Lower fail rate: 7.6%, against 10.7% for the Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen), both built around 2022.

    4,330 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

  4. 4

    Toyota Prius

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    6.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.7%
    Dangerous
    1.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    94.4%

    Lower fail rate: 6.2%, against 10.7% for the Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen), both built around 2022.

    5 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    2,509 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

5 recalls in all

All 5 ID.3 E1 (1st gen) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 2 Critical
  • 3 more

Top concerns

  • 93MF - charging restricted to 80%
  • Replace battery modules
  • Battery check

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

What has gone wrong on ID.3 E1 (1st gen) cars built around 2022

The share of electricity cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 120 cars.

Wear items

Tyres
8%
E1 (1st gen) variants compared
All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common issues on Volkswagen ID.3 models of this age

This list covers every Volkswagen ID.3 built around 2022, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the E1 (1st gen) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    28.8%
    Advisory: 595Fail: 46 (7% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    4.5%
    Advisory: 32Fail: 45 (58% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre has a cut that does not reach the ply or cords

    4.2%
    Advisory: 33Fail: 39 (54% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Headlamp aimed too low or out of line

    1.8%
    Advisory: 35Fail: 2 (5% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Braking effort varies slightly

    1.1%
    Advisory: 16Fail: 6 (27% of the times it was found)

Based on 1,215 tests

Looking at a Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2022 (3 years old), the Volkswagen ID.3 E1 (1st gen) (2020-present) fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. This is based on 1,215 3-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 1,215 MOT tests on Volkswagen ID.3 models first registered from 2020. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.