Known APK problem

Volkswagen up!: brakes

On the Volkswagen up! the APK inspector finds brakes problems 2.0× as often as on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 5.6%, against about 2.8% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Volkswagen up!s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	up!	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
3 – 4 years	A	0.8%	0.5 – 1.1%	0.5%	1.7×	3,158
3 – 4 years	B	0.3%	0.2 – 0.6%	0.5%	0.6×	3,158
3 – 4 years	C	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	0.8%	0.5×	3,158
5 – 6 years	A	1.9%	1.6 – 2.3%	0.7%	2.6×	5,742
5 – 6 years	B	0.6%	0.5 – 0.9%	1.2%	0.5×	5,742
5 – 6 years	C	1.2%	0.9 – 1.5%	1.7%	0.7×	5,742
7 – 8 years	A	2.0%	1.9 – 2.3%	1.2%	1.7×	20,076
7 – 8 years	B	0.9%	0.8 – 1.0%	1.5%	0.6×	20,076
7 – 8 years	C	1.8%	1.6 – 2.0%	2.6%	0.7×	20,076
9 – 10 years	A	3.5%	3.2 – 3.7%	1.8%	2.0×	21,685
9 – 10 years	B	1.0%	0.9 – 1.2%	1.7%	0.6×	21,685
9 – 10 years	C	1.8%	1.6 – 2.0%	2.6%	0.7×	21,685
11 – 12 years	A	5.6%	5.3 – 5.8%	2.8%	2.0×	30,456
11 – 12 years	B	1.1%	1.0 – 1.2%	1.8%	0.6×	30,456
11 – 12 years	C	1.7%	1.5 – 1.8%	2.8%	0.6×	30,456
13 – 15 years	A	6.5%	6.2 – 6.8%	4.1%	1.6×	21,431
13 – 15 years	B	1.2%	1.1 – 1.4%	2.0%	0.6×	21,431
13 – 15 years	C	1.9%	1.7 – 2.1%	3.2%	0.6×	21,431

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 11–12 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Volkswagen up!	5.6%	2.0×
Toyota Aygo I	3.7%	1.3×
Toyota Aygo II	3.0%	1.0×
Fiat 500 (312)	2.9%	1.0×
Citroën C1 I	3.9%	1.4×
Citroën C1 II	2.3%	0.8×

Looking at a Volkswagen up!? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Volkswagen up!s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Volkswagen up! · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Volkswagen up! often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 5.6% of inspected Volkswagen up!s, against about 2.8% of all cars of the same age (2.0×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Volkswagen up!?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know