Does the Volkswagen up! fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?
The Volkswagen up! records 5.95 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.10 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.15, 95% interval −0.21 to −0.09). It ranks 321 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a Volkswagen up! by registration
What exactly fails on visibility?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen up! is “Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen”, recorded 15,734 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 15,734 | 2.40 |
| Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 8,242 | 1.26 |
| Wiper blade defective | 7,947 | 1.21 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 4,248 | 0.65 |
| Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose | 1,287 | 0.20 |
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 visibility advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.0% of Volkswagen up! MOTs with a visibility advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 11.9 months and 6,724 miles later (598 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 598 (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! suspension failures · Volkswagen up! tyres failures