Volkswagen E-Golf: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen E-Golf passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 6,573 individual Volkswagen E-Golf tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.8%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.1 points
Tests analysed6,573
Average mileage at test34,063 miles
Average year of manufacture2019
Reliability rank1,014 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 Volkswagen E-Golfs presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Volkswagen E-Golf tested had covered 34,063 miles and was built around 2019.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen E-Golf sits 11.1 points above the national average, ranked 1,014 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Volkswagen E-Golf rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Volkswagen E-Golfs at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen E-Golf

  1. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 4.6% of tests (2.72x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.2% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.4% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.2% of tests
  6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  8. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.2% of tests
  9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.2% of tests
  10. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.1% of tests

From 6,557 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen E-Golf tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.19% of these flagged Volkswagen E-Golf defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen E-Golf

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Volkswagen E-Golf before it actually fails on it.

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 16.4% of tests (4.2x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 28.5% of tests (1.85x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.7% of tests, also fails
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 2.7% of tests
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.7% of tests
  7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.5% of tests
  8. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.5% of tests
  9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.4% of tests
  10. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.2% of tests, also fails

From 6,557 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen E-Golf tests, 2024.

Volkswagen E-Golf pass rate by model year

From its 2018 to its 2020 model year, the Volkswagen E-Golf's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.2 points, from 89.5% to 88.3%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen E-Golf year:

Other Volkswagen models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen E-Golf MOT pass rate badge: 87.8%

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Volkswagen E-Golf most common MOT failure: A tyre cords visible or damaged (4.6% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate