Does the Volkswagen Phaeton fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Volkswagen Phaeton records 12.15 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 16.36 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.21, 95% interval −5.16 to −3.26). It ranks 544 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Volkswagen Phaeton by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen Phaeton is “Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement”, recorded 196 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 196 | 2.82 |
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 172 | 2.48 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 74 | 1.07 |
| Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 42 | 0.61 |
| Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 41 | 0.59 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,940 (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 Phaeton gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.1% of Volkswagen Phaeton MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 11.9 months and 3,512 miles later (995 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 995 (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 Phaeton by postcode area · Volkswagen Phaeton body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen Phaeton vehicle identification failures · Volkswagen Phaeton lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volkswagen Phaeton noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volkswagen Phaeton road wheels failures · Volkswagen Phaeton steering failures · Volkswagen Phaeton suspension failures · Volkswagen Phaeton tyres failures · Volkswagen Phaeton visibility failures