Volkswagen Up common problems & fixes (2012–2023, incl. e-up! and up! GTI)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-04.

30-second verdict

The Up is a brilliant little car: roomy for its size, frugal and surprisingly grown-up on the motorway. Its twins, the Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii, share almost everything, so this guide applies to them too. Reliability is generally strong. The faults owners mention most are the slow, jerky ASG automated gearbox, a manual gearbox that can be stubborn into first and reverse, and water getting into the tailgate on earlier cars. Choose a manual, check the tailgate, and you are in good shape.

Generations at a glance

Known issues

1. ASG automated manual gearbox — Reported by owners, noted in UK reviews

• What you notice: slow, nodding gear changes, a dip in power then a lurch, no creep when you lift off the brake, rolling back on hills, and occasionally refusing to pick a gear from standstill.
• Which cars: all petrol Ups with the ASG, 2012–2023.
• Why: it is a manual gearbox with a robot-operated clutch, so some jerkiness is normal by design. Clutch wear and actuator faults make it much worse.
• Fix: clutch adaptation (relearn) first, then clutch or actuator work. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £100–£200 for diagnosis and relearn; £400–£700 for a clutch; £500–£1,000 for actuator repair.
• DIY difficulty: 4/5 (diagnostic software needed).
• Check when buying: drive it in traffic and on a hill. If you want an easy-going automatic, consider a different car.

2. Manual gearbox reluctant into first and reverse — Reported by owners

• What you notice: reverse or first baulks or crunches, especially from cold; a whine in reverse is normal on this gearbox.
• Why: the gate design and cable adjustment play a part; a dragging clutch makes it worse.
• Fix: gear cable adjustment, then clutch if it drags. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £60–£150 for adjustment; £350–£550 for a clutch kit.
• Check when buying: select reverse several times with the engine cold.

3. Water in the tailgate and boot — Reported by owners

• What you notice: water sloshing inside the tailgate, misted rear lights, damp boot floor, or rust starting on the tailgate.
• Which cars: mostly pre-2017 cars.
• Why: seals around the high-level brake light, badge, lock button and rear wiper perish, and water cannot drain out.
• Fix: reseal the parts and clear drains. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £80–£200; tailgate rust repair costs more.
• Check when buying: lift the boot floor and look for water or rust; check the bottom of the tailgate.

4. Clutch wear in town — Reported by owners

City use can wear a clutch early. A high bite point or slipping when accelerating in a high gear means one is due. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £350–£550.

5. Electric power steering faults — Reported by owners and steering specialists

Some Ups, Citigos and Miis develop steering warnings or heavy steering. Repair or exchange of the steering unit is possible. Typical UK independent specialist, 2026: £300–£700.

6. e-up! battery range — Reported by owners

Pre-2020 e-ups have a small battery, so real-world range is short and drops in winter. Ask for a battery health report before buying.

Recalls (DVSA data)

Listed against the Up in DVSA recall data. Check the car's own registration at gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall. Citigo and Mii have their own entries.

• R/2013/057 — side airbag diagnostic function disabled; control unit reprogrammed.
• R/2014/176 — risk of unintended airbag deployment; control unit replaced where needed.
• R/2016/145 — child lock may disengage.
• R/2016/221 — front panel of the panoramic sunroof may detach.
• R/2017/079 — airbag or belt tensioners may not trigger in an accident.
• R/2017/347 — towing eye in the tool kit may detach in use.
• R/2023/178 and R/2025/357 — Takata front airbag replacement. DVSA lists the later campaign with a stop-driving warning, so treat any outstanding airbag recall as urgent.

MOT watch-points

What the 2024 DVSA figures say

• First-time pass rate: 79.8% from 124,730 normal Class 4 and 7 Volkswagen up! tests.
• National comparison: 71.5% across the same 2024 dataset, so this model was 8.3 percentage points above the national first-time pass rate.
• Typical tested mileage: median 42,459 miles; mean 46,861 miles.

Most common recorded failure reasons

One test can record more than one defect, so the shares must not be added together.

Common advisories to check before buying

• Tyres - condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing — recorded on 14.0% of tests.
• Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge — recorded on 12.5% of tests.
• Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened — recorded on 6.1% of tests.

Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results. Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS) for normal Class 4 and 7 tests. Results are de-duplicated by test, low-volume rows are suppressed, and DVSA model labels are standardised into a model family. These figures describe tested cars as a group; they do not predict the condition of one vehicle or prove that every trim and generation performs the same way.

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results · Open Government Licence v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024.

Small city cars often reach the MOT with neglected basics. Check tyres, bulbs (including rear lights affected by water ingress), wipers and washers, brake pads, rear brakes and springs before the test.

Buying one? Our checklist

• [ ] Manual preferred. If ASG, test it in traffic and on a hill.
• [ ] Select reverse several times from cold.
• [ ] Lift the boot floor: no water, no rust. Inspect the tailgate's lower edge.
• [ ] Rear lights free of condensation.
• [ ] Clutch bite point and no slip.
• [ ] Steering warning light off.
• [ ] Cambelt change due by age or mileage? Check the service book.
• [ ] Recall check by reg, especially the Takata campaigns.
• [ ] e-up!: battery health report and charging cable included.

Sources & further reading

• What Car?: used Volkswagen Up 2012–2023 reliability
• What Car?: used Skoda Citigo review
• Carbuyer: Volkswagen up! owner reviews
• ASR Gearbox Repairs: VW Up gearbox problems
• Up Owners Club: known problems with the Up
• Western Power Steering: Up, Citigo and Mii power steering faults
• Vehicle-Recall.co.uk: VW Up recalls (mirror of DVSA data)
• GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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