Does the Volkswagen up! fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Volkswagen up! records 1.96 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.82 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−5.86, 95% interval −5.93 to −5.79). It ranks 510 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Volkswagen up! by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen up! is “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn”, recorded 4,854 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 4,854 | 0.74 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,599 | 0.40 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,585 | 0.24 |
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 1,069 | 0.16 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 816 | 0.12 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 656,392 (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 up! gets a suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.3% of Volkswagen up! MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,377 miles later (16,093 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 16,093 (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 up! 2012 · Volkswagen up! 2013 · Volkswagen up! 2014 · Volkswagen up! 2015 · Volkswagen up! 2016 · Volkswagen up! 2017 · Volkswagen up! 2018 · Volkswagen up! 2019 · Volkswagen up! 2020 · Volkswagen up! in Norway · Volkswagen up! in Finland · Volkswagen up! in the Netherlands · Volkswagen up! by postcode area · Volkswagen up! body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen up! brakes failures · Volkswagen up! vehicle identification failures · Volkswagen up! lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volkswagen up! noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volkswagen up! road wheels failures · Volkswagen up! seat belts and airbags failures · Volkswagen up! steering failures · Volkswagen up! tyres failures · Volkswagen up! visibility failures