Volkswagen 181 vs Volkswagen Golf: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volkswagen 181
75%
MOT pass rate · 100 vehicles
Volkswagen Golf
75%
MOT pass rate · 1,830,545 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volkswagen 181 (75%) and Volkswagen Golf (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Volkswagen 181 | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 75% | 75% |
| MOT failure rate | 25% | 25% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.9 ✓ | 2.0 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% | 2% |
| Average mileage | 59,497 mi | 117,668 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 100 | 1,830,545 |
Most common faults
Volkswagen 181
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)
- Oil leak
- Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)
- Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)
- Horn not working (1.6.2a)
Volkswagen Golf
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Volkswagen 181 (75%) and Volkswagen Golf (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volkswagen 181 report Full Volkswagen Golf report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.