Does the Volkswagen Touareg fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Volkswagen Touareg records 2.30 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 3.53 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.23, 95% interval −1.31 to −1.15). It ranks 470 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Volkswagen Touareg by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen Touareg is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 2,855 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 2,855 | 1.32 |
| Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit | 848 | 0.39 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 447 | 0.21 |
| Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit | 207 | 0.10 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 181 | 0.08 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 216,052 (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 Touareg gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
4.5% of Volkswagen Touareg MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 6,958 miles later (10,069 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 10,069 (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 Touareg 2003 · Volkswagen Touareg 2004 · Volkswagen Touareg 2005 · Volkswagen Touareg 2006 · Volkswagen Touareg 2007 · Volkswagen Touareg 2008 · Volkswagen Touareg 2009 · Volkswagen Touareg 2010 · Volkswagen Touareg 2011 · Volkswagen Touareg 2012 · Volkswagen Touareg 2013 · Volkswagen Touareg 2014 · Volkswagen Touareg 2015 · Volkswagen Touareg 2016 · Volkswagen Touareg 2017 · Volkswagen Touareg 2018 · Volkswagen Touareg 2019 · Volkswagen Touareg 2020 · Volkswagen Touareg in Norway · Volkswagen Touareg in Finland · Volkswagen Touareg in the Netherlands · Volkswagen Touareg by postcode area · Volkswagen Touareg body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen Touareg brakes failures · Volkswagen Touareg vehicle identification failures · Volkswagen Touareg lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volkswagen Touareg road wheels failures · Volkswagen Touareg seat belts and airbags failures · Volkswagen Touareg steering failures · Volkswagen Touareg suspension failures · Volkswagen Touareg tyres failures · Volkswagen Touareg visibility failures