Does the Volkswagen Phaeton fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Volkswagen Phaeton records 2.05 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.13 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.08, 95% interval −2.56 to −1.61). It ranks 489 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Volkswagen Phaeton by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen Phaeton is “Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning”, recorded 38 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning | 38 | 0.55 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 35 | 0.50 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 32 | 0.46 |
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
Other pages for this model
Volkswagen Phaeton by postcode area · Volkswagen Phaeton body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen Phaeton brakes 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 suspension failures · Volkswagen Phaeton tyres failures · Volkswagen Phaeton visibility failures