MOT History from tests of petrol VOLKSWAGEN BEETLEs year 1973

Review the list of common VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your VOLKSWAGEN then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:53.47%

(The average a petrol VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE year 1973 passes without issue)

Based on:10,256 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	1591
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	555
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	452
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	407
Registration plate lamp issues	400
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	383
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	352
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	343
Registration plate issues	336
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	318
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	313
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	247
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	236
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	233
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	220
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	219
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	219
Brake pipe excessively corroded	214
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	204
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	170
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	168
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	166
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	159
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	152
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	143
Rear brake binding	142
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	140
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	138
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	135
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	125
Rear brake application uneven	114
Front brake application uneven	112
Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	105
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	100
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	97
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	95
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	94
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	91
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	89
Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	88
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	85
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	82
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	78
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	76
Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	74
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	73
Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.2.C.1h\|	72
Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.2.C.1h\|	69
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	68
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	67
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	66
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	65
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	65
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	65
Windscreen washer not working	63
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	62
Brake hose has insufficient room to move	62
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	62
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	61
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	59
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	58
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	58
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	58
Brake hose damaged	57
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	57
Steering column top bearing excessively worn \|2.1.2c\|	56
Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	56
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	55
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	54
Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel \|steering box fitted\| \|2.2.A.1a\|	54
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	52
Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer torn \|7.2.4c\|	52
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	51
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	51
Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm \|2.2.B.1b\|	50
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	50
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	49
Nearside Front Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure \|5.2.1a\|	48
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	47
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	47
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	47
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	46
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	46
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	46
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	46
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	45
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	45
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on \|1.4.B.1f\|	45
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	45
Offside Front Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure \|5.2.1a\|	44
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	43
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	43
Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level \|3.6.G.1b\|	43
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	43
Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	42
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	42
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off \|1.4.B.1f\|	41
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	41
Offside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	41
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	40
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	40
Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	39
Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute \|1.4.A.2g\|	39
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	38
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	38
Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	38
Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	38
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	37
Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	36
Nearside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	36
Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer deteriorated \|7.2.4c\|	35
Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|3.6.C.3\|	35
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	34
Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	34
Brake pedal has insufficient reserve movement \|3.3.A.5\|	34
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	33
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	33
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	33
Driver`s seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. \|6.2.A.3\|	32
Front passenger seat insecure \|6.2.3\|	31
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	31
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	31
Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	31
Offside Front Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|3.6.C.3\|	31
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	31
Offside Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened \|2.4.G.1\|	31
Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	30
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	30
Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	30
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	29
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	29
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	29
Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	29
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	29
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	29
Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	28
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	27
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	27
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	27
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	27
Nearside Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened \|2.4.G.1\|	27
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user \|1.6.2b\|	26
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	26
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	26
Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	26
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	25
Nearside Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.2.1f\|	25
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	24
Offside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	24
Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	24
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	24
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	23
Nearside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	23
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	23
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Nearside Front Passenger`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	23
Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing \|7.2.4c\|	22
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	22
Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	22
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	22
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	22
Exhaust engine idle speed too high \|7.3.A.2a\|	22
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	22
Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.2.C.1h\|	22
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	22
Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	22
Nearside front brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	21
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	21
Offside Front Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	21
Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	21
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	20
Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	20
Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	20
Nearside Rear wheel cylinder leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	20
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	20
Steering box insecure \|2.2.B.1a\|	20
Offside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	20
Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened \|2.4.G.1\|	20
Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position \|8.4.1\|	20
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	19
Steering column movement between the shaft and steering wheel \|2.1.2b\|	19
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	19
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Offside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	19
Headlamp switch faulty \|1.7.1\|	19
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	19
Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	19
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	19
An item not tested \|Manual\|	18
Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	18
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	18
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	18
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	18
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	18
Nearside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	18
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired \|2.4.A.3\|	18
Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	18
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	18
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	18
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	18
Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams \|1.7.4b\|	17
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired \|2.4.A.3\|	17
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	17
Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	17
Offside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	17
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	17
Steering wheel retaining device insecure \|2.1.6\|	17
Nearside Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.2.C.1h\|	16
Offside front brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	16
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	16
Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	16
Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))	16
Horn not working \|7.7 \|a\| \|ii\|\|	16
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition \|7.1.4\|	16
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	16
Offside Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.2.1f\|	16
Bootlid cannot be secured in the closed position \|6.4.1\|	16
Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure \|3.3.B.1a\|	16
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	16
Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil \|3.5.1h\|	16
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	15
Offside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	15
Offside Rear wheel cylinder leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	15
Nearside Front Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	15
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	15
Nearside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil \|3.5.1h\|	15
Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	15
Offside Front Brake actuating linkage mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|3.3.A.2\|	15

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

MOT History from tests of petrol VOLKSWAGEN BEETLEs year 1973

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