Volkswagen T-Roc Common Faults in the UK
first generation 2017–2026 — small crossover SUV. Updated 6 October 2026.
This guide covers the first generation 2017–2026. For any other version of the T-Roc, see how to check any car for known faults.
The Volkswagen T-Roc passes the MOT above the average for its age in every registration year with enough tests (2018–2022), and DVSA lists no recall of 10,000 or more vehicles: the largest, R/2022/074 (engine covers that could come loose), is one 7,579-vehicle total shared with the Golf 8, Tiguan and Arteon. What Car? scored the T-Roc 99% in 2025, but owners of diesels reported AdBlue and particulate-filter faults and owners of petrols infotainment and door-lock faults. Launch-year cars carry several small recalls.
Largest DVSA recall for the T-Roc: R/2022/074, 7,579 vehicles in the whole recall — Engine compartment covers could come loose from their attachment.
92.9% of Volkswagen T-Rocs pass the MOT first time, 4.5 points better than the national average for cars of the same age (88.4%). Counted from 9,266 DVSA tests on cars registered 2018–2022; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.
See it by registration year and by mileage ↓No asking-price figure is shown: we give the median and middle 80% of asking prices only when at least 10 cars on Autoza qualify — here, Volkswagen T-Roc cars registered from 2017. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The fuel economy tile names the source it rests on or says there is no sourced figure, and the insurance tile gives no figure. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.
Best and worst years to buy
We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.
DVSA’s MOT table rates both above all cars registered the same year (by 3.8 and 4.5 points). Cars built after the last of the launch-year recalls (R/2018/352, builds to 31 August 2018) are outside all of them, and cars built before 5 September 2020, when the engine-cover recall R/2022/074’s build window begins, are outside that one too.
No year is named: DVSA’s MOT table rates every T-Roc registration year above all cars registered that year (2018 by 7.4 points). Launch-year cars carry five small recalls: R/2018/066 (an owner’s manual supplement, built November 2017 to January 2018), R/2018/301 and R/2020/112 (electric parking brake software, built October 2017 to June 2018), R/2019/005 (rear spoiler bond, January to June 2018) and R/2018/352 (rear seat backrest weld, May to August 2018), so check the car by registration.
Known faults — Volkswagen T-Roc first generation 2017–2026
How to read this list. Items marked Safety recall are DVSA safety recalls, shown with DVSA’s own reference. Whether a particular car is affected depends on when it was built: check it by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: what the UK publication named on each card reports from its owner surveys and tests. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.
Engine compartment covers could come loose
- Symptoms
- DVSA wording: engine compartment covers were fitted that, regardless of use (very sporty driving style or poor road condition) and operating period, could come loose from their attachment. The cover is removed on all affected cars.
- Years affected
- T-Roc built 5 September 2020 to 17 February 2022; DVSA gives one total for the Arteon, Golf 8, T-Roc and Tiguan
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. What Car? lists this one, so ask for the dealer record.
Body — rear spoiler bond and rear seat backrest weld (2018 builds)
- Symptoms
- DVSA wording: for R/2019/005 the bonding of the upper and lower sections of the rear spoiler may be faulty, and the spoiler is inspected and repaired or replaced; for R/2018/352 the rear backrest head-restraint mounting is not correctly welded, and the backrest frame is checked and replaced if required.
- Years affected
- T-Roc built 29 January 2018 to 12 June 2018 (R/2019/005) and 1 May 2018 to 31 August 2018 (R/2018/352)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2019/005 6,830; R/2018/352 4,027 (every model in the recall).
Electric parking brake — may release when the clutch is released (launch-year cars)
- Symptoms
- DVSA wording: the electro-mechanical parking brake can be unintentionally released when disengaging the clutch pedal. For R/2018/301 the brake-control software is updated; for R/2020/112 the brake control unit is recoded.
- Years affected
- T-Roc built 1 October 2017 to 30 June 2018 (R/2018/301) and 21 November 2017 to 23 June 2018 (R/2020/112)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Check the parking brake holds the car on a slope with a manual gearbox.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2018/301 3,327; R/2020/112 1,390.
Diesel — AdBlue and particulate-filter faults
- Symptoms
- What Car? says owners of diesel T-Rocs most often reported faulty AdBlue systems and diesel particulate filter problems, often with warning lights and repeated visits to the dealer.
- Years affected
- Diesel T-Rocs
- What to check before buying
- Check for any warning light after start-up, ask for the AdBlue and particulate-filter history, and look at the invoices for any visit to a dealer for either.
Petrol — infotainment and door-lock faults
- Symptoms
- What Car? says owners of petrol T-Rocs reported occasional problems with the infotainment system and door locks: minor, but not always quickly resolved.
- Years affected
- Petrol T-Rocs
- What to check before buying
- Work the touchscreen, Bluetooth and every door lock, and, as What Car? advises, make sure a DSG automatic changes gear smoothly without hesitation or juddering.
Interior — hard plastics and large alloy wheels
- Symptoms
- What Car? says the T-Roc’s interior is largely hard, scratchy plastics that show family use, and that the 19-inch alloy wheels some versions have are easily scraped and can be expensive to refurbish or replace.
- Years affected
- 2018–2026 T-Roc
- What to check before buying
- Check the dashboard, door cards and centre console for damage, and every alloy wheel for kerb marks.
Volkswagen T-Roc MOT results by year and mileage
Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.
By registration year
Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the T-Roc was higher in every one of the 5 registration years from 2018 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap above is 2018 registrations: 91.9% against 84.5%.
| Registered | T-Roc | All cars that year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20221,705 tests | 94.8% | 91.2% | +3.6 higher |
| 20212,052 tests | 94.0% | 90.1% | +3.9 higher |
| 20201,677 tests | 93.2% | 88.7% | +4.5 higher |
| 20192,180 tests | 90.7% | 86.9% | +3.8 higher |
| 20181,563 tests | 91.9% | 84.5% | +7.4 higher |
By mileage at the test
Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the T-Roc was higher in every one of the 2 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.
Show the table by mileage (2 bands)
| Mileage | T-Roc | Same age and mileage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20k–40k3,782 tests | 94.2% | 90.1% | +4.1 higher |
| 40k–60k2,585 tests | 90.7% | 86.1% | +4.6 higher |
Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.
We don’t give a recall count for the Volkswagen T-Roc: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 1,563 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Buyers who want a small SUV with a strong MOT record and few large recalls, and who will check a launch-year car by registration.
Anyone buying a diesel T-Roc without its AdBlue and particulate-filter history.
Alternatives to consider
If the Volkswagen T-Roc doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
Volkswagen T-Roc: questions buyers ask
What are the most common faults on a used Volkswagen T-Roc in the UK?
The Volkswagen T-Roc passes the MOT above the average for its age in every registration year with enough tests (2018–2022), and DVSA lists no recall of 10,000 or more vehicles: the largest, R/2022/074 (engine covers that could come loose), is one 7,579-vehicle total shared with the Golf 8, Tiguan and Arteon. What Car? scored the T-Roc 99% in 2025, but owners of diesels reported AdBlue and particulate-filter faults and owners of petrols infotainment and door-lock faults. Launch-year cars carry several small recalls.
What is the best year to buy a used Volkswagen T-Roc in the UK?
Best-buy years: 2019, 2020. DVSA’s MOT table rates both above all cars registered the same year (by 3.8 and 4.5 points). Cars built after the last of the launch-year recalls (R/2018/352, builds to 31 August 2018) are outside all of them, and cars built before 5 September 2020, when the engine-cover recall R/2022/074’s build window begins, are outside that one too.
What years of Volkswagen T-Roc should I avoid in the UK?
No specific year of the first generation 2017–2026 Volkswagen T-Roc is generally avoided. No year is named: DVSA’s MOT table rates every T-Roc registration year above all cars registered that year (2018 by 7.4 points). Launch-year cars carry five small recalls: R/2018/066 (an owner’s manual supplement, built November 2017 to January 2018), R/2018/301 and R/2020/112 (electric parking brake software, built October 2017 to June 2018), R/2019/005 (rear spoiler bond, January to June 2018) and R/2018/352 (rear seat backrest weld, May to August 2018), so check the car by registration.
How much does a used Volkswagen T-Roc cost in the UK in 2026?
This page gives no figure at the moment: Autoza quotes asking prices only when at least 10 qualifying cars are advertised with a price — here, Volkswagen T-Roc cars registered from 2017. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.
What is the road tax (VED) on a Volkswagen T-Roc in the UK?
Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
What real-world fuel economy does a Volkswagen T-Roc achieve on UK roads?
No sourced real-world figure for the T-Roc, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at.
How does a Volkswagen T-Roc compare to its rivals?
Strong alternatives in the UK: Skoda Karoq, Hyundai Kona, Renault Captur, Nissan Juke. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).
Who is the Volkswagen T-Roc most suitable for?
Buyers who want a small SUV with a strong MOT record and few large recalls, and who will check a launch-year car by registration.
Who should NOT buy a Volkswagen T-Roc?
Anyone buying a diesel T-Roc without its AdBlue and particulate-filter history.
Are there safety recalls on the Volkswagen T-Roc?
DVSA lists 6 safety recalls for the Volkswagen T-Roc that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2022/074 (7,579 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 5 September 2020 and 17 February 2022): Engine compartment covers could come loose from their attachment; R/2019/005 (6,830 vehicles, built between 29 January 2018 and 12 June 2018): The bonded joint between the upper and lower section of the rear spoiler may be faulty; R/2018/352 (4,027 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 1 May 2018 and 31 August 2018): Rear seat bench welded connection may not be correctly performed. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.
Is the Diesel — AdBlue and particulate-filter faults on the Volkswagen T-Roc a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: Diesel — AdBlue and particulate-filter faults is reported by What Car? for the Volkswagen T-Roc, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: What Car? says owners of diesel T-Rocs most often reported faulty AdBlue systems and diesel particulate filter problems, often with warning lights and repeated visits to the dealer. Years affected: Diesel T-Rocs. What to check before buying: Check for any warning light after start-up, ask for the AdBlue and particulate-filter history, and look at the invoices for any visit to a dealer for either.
Check these next
The guide above is about the Volkswagen T-Roc as a model. These are about the car in front of you.
- Browse Volkswagen T-Roc listings on AutozaEvery one listed now.
- Check any car by its registrationFree: its MOT history, tax status and any open recall, from a number plate.
- Work out the road tax for the T-RocVehicle tax (VED) by registration date, CO2 and list price.
- Work out the monthly paymentExamples for a car loan or hire purchase by price, deposit, term and APR.
- What is your T-Roc worth?A price range from dealers' asking prices for comparable cars.
Looking to buy a Volkswagen T-Roc in the UK?
Search Autoza listings filtered by year, mileage, and region. Every dealer page shows the business name, address and contact details, so you can check the business before you enquire.