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Volkswagen up! reliability by build year

Coverage 2012-20231 named generationHatchbackPETROL
At a glance

Volkswagen up! built around 2018: about average at the MOT

Volkswagen up! models built around 2018 fail their MOT a little less often than similar cars the same age.

Check a Volkswagen up! by number plate

Key figure

14% of MOT tests on Volkswagen up! models built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 18% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Volkswagen up! models built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

Turned into things to ask about or look for: the most common MOT issues on the Volkswagen up!

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

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

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

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.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find the generation of your up!

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

up! AA (1st gen, inc e-Up)

AA (1st gen, inc e-Up) (2012-2023)

Too close to call between ratings
PETROLELECTRICITY

14.2% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 15,657 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

For the Volkswagen up!, match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years.

See every build year for the Volkswagen up!

By age

Volkswagen up! fail rate by age

This chart combines every Volkswagen up! ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
9326.4%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
1,1567.3%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
4,3929.3%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
11,34711.6%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
15,65714.2%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
15,36717.1%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
17,27319.2%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
22,31118.5%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
26,28718.9%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
23,59719.8%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
8,64921.2%

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 13 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Volkswagen up! stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Volkswagen models

5th of 16

5th lowest fail rate of 16 Volkswagen models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against other hatchbacks

20th of 84

20th lowest fail rate of 84 hatchbacks with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against the UK average

14.2%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Volkswagen up! models

These issues come from 7-year-old Volkswagen up! models, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

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

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    18.4%
    Advisory: 4,652Fail: 315 (6% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

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

    10.6%
    Advisory: 2,322Fail: 167 (7% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    9.0%
    Advisory: 1,706Fail: 399 (19% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.1%
    Advisory: 1,402Fail: 17 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    4.3%
    Advisory: 627Fail: 128 (17% of the times it was found)

Based on 15,657 MOT tests on 7-year-old Volkswagen up! models, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Volkswagen up! models notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres35%
  2. Suspension + Tyres22%
  3. Brakes + Suspension17%
  4. Other + Tyres11%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 3,377 MOT tests on Volkswagen up! cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

97%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · More than typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

9 recalls in all

8 of the 9 Volkswagen up! recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 2 Critical
  • 6 more

Top concerns

  • Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement
  • Unintentional airbag deployment
  • Takata front airbag

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

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Citroen C4 Cactus

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.7%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    3.3%
    Dangerous
    5.6%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen up! on these figures.

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

    7,268 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Suzuki Ignis

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    16.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    2.3%
    Dangerous
    3.2%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen up! on these figures.

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

    6,813 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Toyota Aygo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.2%
    Dangerous
    4.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen up! on these figures.

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

    25,028 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Fiat Tipo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    24.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.8%
    Dangerous
    7.2%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen up! on these figures.

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

    4,398 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

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.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Volkswagen up! across all generations combined fails MOTs slightly less often than typical for this age. It has the 5th lowest fail rate of 16 Volkswagen models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 15,657 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Volkswagen up! ever sold: 146,968 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 15,657 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.