MOT reliability

Volkswagen Golf

Q: Is the Volkswagen Golf reliable?

Across 1,830,545 Volkswagen Golf vehicles in our MOT data, 75% pass the MOT (a 25% failure rate), with about 2.0 faults or advisories recorded per test.

Q: What is the average mileage of a Volkswagen Golf?

The typical Volkswagen Golf in our data has covered around 117,668 miles.

1,830,545 vehicles · 22,300,913 completed MOT tests analysed

75%

MOT pass rate

Based on 1,830,545 Volkswagen Golf vehicles and 22,300,913 completed MOT tests, the Volkswagen Golf has an overall 75% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 117,668 miles.

1,830,545

Vehicles

22,300,913

MOT tests

7,834

Avg miles / year

Faults per test

Dangerous-fault share

Volkswagen Golf problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Volkswagen Golf MOT tests:

Other65%
Tyres, wheels & suspension22%
Brakes10%
Lamps & electrical4%
Emissions & nuisance4%
Steering3%
Body & structure2%
Seatbelts & equipment2%

Volkswagen Golf pass rate by age

How the Volkswagen Golf's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)	Tests	Pass rate
1	705	84%
2	38,564	87%
3	1,380,473	86%
4	1,409,762	86%
5	1,500,986	84%
6	1,597,021	82%
7	1,660,798	80%
8	1,666,375	78%
9	1,646,162	75%
10	1,623,200	73%
11	1,574,381	71%
12	1,487,482	70%
13	1,359,868	68%
14	1,194,846	67%
15	1,000,452	67%
16	808,370	66%
17	623,761	66%
18	464,263	66%
19	331,141	66%
20	233,670	66%

Fuel types: Petrol (1,013,274), Diesel (805,791), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (10,061), Electric (904), Other (333), LPG (163), Gas Bi-Fuel (10), Gas Diesel (4)

Most common Volkswagen Golf MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volkswagen Golf MOT tests:

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (766,176 times)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (752,780 times)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (516,287 times)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (515,709 times)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (499,769 times)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (466,021 times)
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (351,218 times)
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (284,992 times)
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (283,758 times)
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (274,482 times)
Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b)) (270,878 times)
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d) (269,353 times)
Oil leak (268,247 times)
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (267,829 times)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (259,238 times)

Volkswagen Golf pass rate by registration year

Year	Vehicles	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
2026	4	5	80%	48,557
2025	26	30	97%	52,668
2024	32	54	89%	36,543
2023	1,238	1,393	93%	25,718
2022	1,941	2,258	94%	26,980
2021	207	507	89%	39,677
2020	7,132	27,100	92%	44,400
2019	50,257	248,932	90%	53,570
2018	64,499	395,968	88%	62,251
2017	74,528	540,746	88%	68,755
2016	70,607	571,005	87%	77,281
2015	75,154	685,492	86%	85,408
2014	74,460	751,777	85%	95,202
2013	65,453	732,321	83%	101,688
2012	62,831	791,400	81%	109,912
2011	64,934	883,606	79%	119,120
2010	60,934	896,874	78%	123,870
2009	61,652	972,202	78%	123,797
2008	66,645	1,103,104	76%	134,370
2007	74,112	1,298,944	76%	135,235
2006	70,037	1,252,579	74%	135,706
2005	72,512	1,272,236	73%	138,093
2004	68,383	1,214,463	72%	137,094
2003	70,619	1,348,651	72%	143,959
2002	85,560	1,553,654	71%	145,764
2001	75,659	1,247,658	70%	139,446
2000	64,689	982,950	69%	139,037
1999	64,475	875,490	67%	134,368
1998	40,883	497,283	66%	132,149
1997	36,552	360,948	66%	128,029
1996	46,797	421,900	65%	128,945
1995	38,114	299,314	64%	127,649
1994	34,560	222,938	63%	125,107
1993	25,306	141,889	63%	119,588
1992	19,911	113,745	64%	125,469
1991	17,281	135,172	66%	133,857
1990	19,015	135,955	65%	131,872
1989	15,933	105,293	64%	130,655
1988	10,133	62,883	64%	130,063
1987	5,798	37,022	65%	127,664
1986	3,898	25,057	65%	120,683
1985	2,678	17,815	65%	112,108
1984	1,974	13,192	66%	115,685
1983	4,407	35,208	68%	137,417
1982	1,715	12,309	66%	118,137
1981	802	5,076	66%	102,580
1980	311	2,087	68%	106,648
1979	132	773	73%	90,778
1978	57	355	75%	80,056
1977	26	100	69%	75,147
1976	29	121	75%	88,797
1975	20	79	85%	81,292
1974	3	19	63%	51,029
1972	1	1	0%	107,099
1971	167	1,055	66%	134,312
1970	2	6	67%	71,944
1969	1	2	50%	98,555
1968	3	36	64%	116,504
1966	1	13	69%	170,693
1963	1	2	50%	277,759
1956	2	10	70%	196,474
1919	1	7	71%	118,638
1918	1	1	100%	49,593

Volkswagen Golf reliability FAQ

Across 1,830,545 Volkswagen Golf vehicles in our MOT data, 75% pass the MOT (a 25% failure rate), with about 2 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Volkswagen Golf MOT issues are: 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)).

The typical Volkswagen Golf in our data has covered around 117,668 miles.

Compare the Volkswagen Golf

See how the Volkswagen Golf stacks up against other Volkswagen models on MOT reliability:

Golf vs Polo Golf vs Passat Golf vs Transporter Golf vs Tiguan

Check a specific Volkswagen Golf

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Volkswagen models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks