Volkswagen Golf: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Golf passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 0.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 836,113 individual Volkswagen Golf tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 77.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 23 in every 100 Volkswagen 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 Golf tested had covered 91,380 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Golf sits 0.4 points above the national average, ranked 1,547 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. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific Volkswagen 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 the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Volkswagen Golf: £450 at UK salvage auction, from 105 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Golf

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.1% of tests (2.18x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.9% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect)
3. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.3% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.7% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
5. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.3% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.2% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.5% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.4% of tests
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.3% of tests

From 835,358 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Golf tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.82% of these flagged Volkswagen 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 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 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, 15.9% of tests (4.06x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.9% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.5% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 1.5% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.3% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 15.9% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 28.9% of tests, also fails
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 15.8% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.1% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.8% of tests

From 835,358 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Golf tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Golf pass rate by model year

From its 1990 to its 2020 model year, the Volkswagen Golf's first-time pass rate has risen 20.4 points, from 72.1% to 92.5%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Golf year:

• 1990 Volkswagen Golf - 72.1% first-time pass, 1,593 tests
• 1991 Volkswagen Golf - 77.8% first-time pass, 1,625 tests
• 1992 Volkswagen Golf - 74% first-time pass, 557 tests
• 1993 Volkswagen Golf - 73.3% first-time pass, 255 tests
• 1994 Volkswagen Golf - 72.6% first-time pass, 281 tests
• 1995 Volkswagen Golf - 69.6% first-time pass, 496 tests
• 1996 Volkswagen Golf - 69.6% first-time pass, 905 tests
• 1997 Volkswagen Golf - 69.4% first-time pass, 947 tests
• 1998 Volkswagen Golf - 65.5% first-time pass, 1,214 tests
• 1999 Volkswagen Golf - 62.9% first-time pass, 2,666 tests
• 2000 Volkswagen Golf - 64.1% first-time pass, 4,337 tests
• 2001 Volkswagen Golf - 63.9% first-time pass, 7,922 tests
• 2002 Volkswagen Golf - 64.4% first-time pass, 13,978 tests
• 2003 Volkswagen Golf - 64.9% first-time pass, 16,374 tests
• 2004 Volkswagen Golf - 59% first-time pass, 12,616 tests
• 2005 Volkswagen Golf - 62.3% first-time pass, 19,755 tests
• 2006 Volkswagen Golf - 62.2% first-time pass, 29,235 tests
• 2007 Volkswagen Golf - 64.4% first-time pass, 40,159 tests
• 2008 Volkswagen Golf - 65.8% first-time pass, 40,358 tests
• 2009 Volkswagen Golf - 68.9% first-time pass, 44,112 tests
• 2010 Volkswagen Golf - 68.2% first-time pass, 44,990 tests
• 2011 Volkswagen Golf - 70.1% first-time pass, 50,743 tests
• 2012 Volkswagen Golf - 73.1% first-time pass, 52,141 tests
• 2013 Volkswagen Golf - 80.7% first-time pass, 55,162 tests
• 2014 Volkswagen Golf - 83.1% first-time pass, 64,229 tests
• 2015 Volkswagen Golf - 85.9% first-time pass, 67,704 tests
• 2016 Volkswagen Golf - 87.8% first-time pass, 65,370 tests
• 2017 Volkswagen Golf - 88.5% first-time pass, 70,148 tests
• 2018 Volkswagen Golf - 89.8% first-time pass, 61,863 tests
• 2019 Volkswagen Golf - 90.7% first-time pass, 48,390 tests
• 2020 Volkswagen Golf - 92.5% first-time pass, 6,997 tests

Volkswagen Golf by fuel type

The Volkswagen Golf's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.6 points: diesel passes first time 74.7% of the time (418,156 tests) against 80.3% for petrol (402,617 tests).

• Diesel Volkswagen Golf - 74.7% first-time pass, 418,156 tests
• Petrol Volkswagen Golf - 80.3% first-time pass, 402,617 tests
• Hybrid Volkswagen Golf - 86.5% first-time pass, 9,378 tests
• Electric Volkswagen Golf - 87.8% first-time pass, 811 tests

Other Volkswagen models

• Volkswagen Polo - 71.4%
• Volkswagen Transporter - 70.8%
• Volkswagen Tiguan - 82.4%
• Volkswagen Passat - 74.7%
• Volkswagen Caddy - 73.5%
• Volkswagen Up - 84.4%
• Volkswagen Touran - 72.7%
• Volkswagen T-Roc - 92.3%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Mazda Mx-5 - 77.2%
• Mercedes-Benz Citan 109 Pure Cdi - 77.2%
• Vauxhall Cavalier - 77.2%
• Fiat Ducato - 77.1%
• BMW 540 - 77.1%
• Audi Coupe - 77.1%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• Does fuel type affect MOT pass rate? Petrol beats diesel in 83% of models
• Does where you live affect your MOT pass rate? A 23-point gap across Britain
• Best salvage cars for beginners
• The most common MOT advisories, and what they become if you ignore them
• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate