Car statistics by year

2002 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat cars first registered in 2002: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2002, so like is set against like.

A year of the Volkswagen Passat. “2002” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
1,316 MOT tests of 2002 Volkswagen Passat cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 61.2% All 2002 cars 59.7%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 155,800 miles; all 2002 cars 99,400
  • Left at the end of 2025 4,122 18.8% of the 21,922 at the end of 2014
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 9.7% All 2002 cars 9.0%
  • Tests with an advisory 73.9% All 2002 cars 68.6%
  • MOT tests in 2025 1,316 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2002 Volkswagen Passats do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 23 years old, 61.2% of 2002 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests were passed first time, against 59.7% for all cars first registered in 2002. 2002 Volkswagen Passats did better than average for their age, by 1.5 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 57.7% of the time (all 2002 cars 58.3%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Volkswagen Passat vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Volkswagen Passat bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Volkswagen Passat compared with all cars
First registered Volkswagen PassatAll cars
’01 58.8%61.5%
’02 61.2%59.7%
’03 59.3%58.9%
’04 60.3%57.9%
’05 60.8%57.7%
’06 57.1%56.9%
’07 59.0%57.3%
’08 60.7%57.0%
’09 62.6%58.2%
’10 62.8%59.3%
’11 64.4%61.5%
’12 64.7%63.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2002 Volkswagen Passat

Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt was the most common single reason a 2002 Volkswagen Passat failed, on 18.8% of about 500 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (47.5% of failed tests; all 2002 cars 48.3%). 9.7% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.0% for all cars first registered in 2002. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2002 Volkswagen Passat tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure 18.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 11.8%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 11.6%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 10.0%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 9.8%
Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension 8.0%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 7.5%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 6.3%
Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes 5.9%
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play Steering 5.7%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Volkswagen Passat vs all 2002 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2002 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2002 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 47.5%
Suspension 33.7%
Body, chassis, structure 31.2%
Brakes 29.6%
Tyres 15.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks 12.7%
Visibility 12.5%
Steering 10.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2002 Volkswagen Passat

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 73.9% of 2002 Volkswagen Passat tests had at least one (all 2002 cars 68.6%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2002 Volkswagen Passat tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks 22.7%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 22.3%
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 21.4%
Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension 14.9%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 11.1%
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes 10.9%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 8.4%
Coil spring: corroded Suspension 7.9%
Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension 7.6%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 7.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2002 Volkswagen Passat?

Half of the 2002 Volkswagen Passats tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 155,800 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 117,300 and a quarter more than 196,000. For all cars first registered in 2002, the middle figure was 99,400 miles, so 2002 Volkswagen Passats have been driven 56.7% further than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2002 Volkswagen Passat and all 2002 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2002 Volkswagen Passat 82,400 117,300 155,800 196,000 235,500 1,268
All 2002 cars 48,900 70,700 99,400 133,600 168,800 161,894
miles

Half of the 2002 Volkswagen Passats tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 155,800 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2002 Volkswagen Passats are left?

At the end of 2014, 21,922 2002 Volkswagen Passats were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 4,122 were: 1,161 licensed and 2,961 declared off the road (SORN). That is 18.8% still on the record, against 20.9% for all cars first registered in 2002.

Share still on the record since 2014

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2002 Volkswagen Passats on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2014, compared with all 2002 cars
Year end 2002 Volkswagen PassatAll 2002 cars
2014 100.0%100.0%
2015 89.5%89.1%
2016 77.5%77.6%
2017 63.6%64.4%
2018 51.1%52.9%
2019 41.7%44.1%
2020 35.1%37.9%
2021 29.3%32.3%
2022 25.8%28.7%
2023 23.2%25.9%
2024 20.5%22.9%
2025 18.8%20.9%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2002

1 of the Volkswagen Passat’s 40 recalls in DVSA’s records covers cars built during 2002. 1 has no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2002 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2002 may have been built in 2001, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Volkswagen Passat recalls whose build dates include 2002
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
24 Jan 2019 Driver airbag generator housing could come loose 1 Jan 2002 to 31 Dec 2002 786 (all models)

Every Volkswagen Passat recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Volkswagen Passat

22 years of the Volkswagen Passat, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2009 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (62.6% passed first time) and the 2001 cars worst (58.8%).

Volkswagen Passats by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2001 2,926 58.8% 61.5%
2002 4,122 61.2% 59.7%
2003 4,978 59.3% 58.9%
2004 4,909 60.3% 57.9%
2005 6,051 60.8% 57.7%
2006 7,105 57.1% 56.9%
2007 8,761 59.0% 57.3%
2008 9,147 60.7% 57.0%
2009 10,774 62.6% 58.2%
2010 10,883 62.8% 59.3%
2011 17,222 64.4% 61.5%
2012 14,055 64.7% 63.6%
2013 12,500 67.1% 66.0%
2014 18,643 15,412 69.4% 69.1%
2015 18,679 15,931 76.9% 72.6%
2016 17,300 15,501 79.4% 75.6%
2017 15,585 14,217 81.0% 79.1%
2018 11,669 10,775 84.1% 81.8%
2019 7,441 7,315 86.1% 84.4%
2020 6,057 5,817 88.4% 86.9%
2021 3,672 3,371 87.9% 88.4%
2022 2,462 2,312 87.1% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 1,316 MOT tests of 2002 Volkswagen Passat cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 4,122 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Volkswagen Passat cars first registered in 2002; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2002.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.