Model reliability

Volkswagen Fox reliability

The Volkswagen Fox fails its MOT more often than most cars over 10 years old: 47.3% of 28,543 tests failed in 2023, against 39.7% on average.

Over 10 years old

47.3% failed their MOT

Worse than most

From 28,543 MOT tests of Volkswagen Foxs this age.

Where it does worse than other cars this age

Fails 2× as oftenExhaust emissions10.6% vs 5.1%Fix about £150

Fails 2× as oftenWashers8.3% vs 3.5%

Fails 90% more oftenAnti-roll bars8% vs 4.2%

Fails 31% more oftenHeadlamp aim7.1% vs 5.4%Fix about £30

Advised 44% more oftenTyre condition15% vs 10.4%Fix about £90

Advised 2× as oftenExhaust system10.9% vs 5.3%Fix about £150

Advised 2× as oftenHeadlamps7.8% vs 3.7%Fix about £30

Advised 62% more oftenTransmission4.7% vs 2.9%

Safety recalls

2 DVSA recalls for the Volkswagen Fox

Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.

R/2025/35722 Aug 2025Built 2006–2007Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement

Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.

Fix: The front airbag must be replaced. Immediate Action Required: Stop driving your vehicle immediately. Contact the Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (MONDAY to FRIDAY 9:00AM to 5:00PM to arrange your recall service.

Recalled models: FOX · 4 vehicles

R/2023/17813 Jun 2023Built 2006–2011Takata Front airbag

The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.

Fix: Replace airbag

Recalled models: FOX (5Z) · 33,905 vehicles

DVSA vehicle safety recalls (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence).

Checking a Volkswagen Fox before you buy

Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.

Volkswagen Fox reliability

2 DVSA recalls for the Volkswagen Fox

Checking a Volkswagen Fox before you buy

Run this check on every listing, automatically.