Does the Volkswagen Jetta fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Volkswagen Jetta records 2.61 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.34 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.27, 95% interval +1.18 to +1.37). It ranks 91 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Volkswagen Jetta by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen Jetta is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 1,279 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 1,279 | 1.19 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 1,168 | 1.09 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 105 | 0.10 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 85 | 0.08 |
| Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended | 42 | 0.04 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 107,161 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Volkswagen Jetta gets a seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.8% of Volkswagen Jetta MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 7,146 miles later (603 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 603 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Volkswagen Jetta 2005 · Volkswagen Jetta 2006 · Volkswagen Jetta 2007 · Volkswagen Jetta 2008 · Volkswagen Jetta 2009 · Volkswagen Jetta 2010 · Volkswagen Jetta 2011 · Volkswagen Jetta 2012 · Volkswagen Jetta 2013 · Volkswagen Jetta 2014 · Volkswagen Jetta 2015 · Volkswagen Jetta 2016 · Volkswagen Jetta 2017 · Volkswagen Jetta in Norway · Volkswagen Jetta in Finland · Volkswagen Jetta in the Netherlands · Volkswagen Jetta by postcode area · Volkswagen Jetta body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen Jetta brakes failures · Volkswagen Jetta vehicle identification failures · Volkswagen Jetta lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volkswagen Jetta noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volkswagen Jetta road wheels failures · Volkswagen Jetta steering failures · Volkswagen Jetta suspension failures · Volkswagen Jetta tyres failures · Volkswagen Jetta visibility failures