Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 15.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 525 individual Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 92.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 7 in every 100 Volkswagen Golf Active Tsis 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 Active Tsi tested had covered 25,665 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi sits 15.9 points above the national average, ranked 300 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 Golf Active Tsi 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 Golf Active Tsis at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 4% of tests (1.43x 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, 1.9% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.5% of tests
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.1% of tests
5. Number plate showing an incorrect registration, 0.4% of tests (35.86x the national rate for this defect)
6. An obstruction significantly affecting the driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen or an obligatory external mirror not visible, 0.4% of tests (5.42x the national rate for this defect)
7. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.2% of tests
8. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.2% of tests
9. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.2% of tests
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.2% of tests

From 524 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.63% of these flagged Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi 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 Active Tsi

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 Active Tsi 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, 6.1% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 23.5% of tests, also fails
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.2% of tests, also fails
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1% of tests
5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 0.4% of tests
6. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.2% of tests
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.2% of tests
8. Number plate missing or so insecure that it is likely to fall off, 0.2% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this advisory)

From 524 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen models

• Volkswagen Golf - 77.1%
• 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%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Volvo Xc60 R-Design T8 Phev Awd Auto - 92.6%
• Volkswagen Id3 Tech - 92.6%
• Audi A5 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A - 92.6%
• Ford Fiesta St-Line Edition T Mhev - 92.5%
• Ford Puma St-Line X First Ed Mhev - 92.5%
• Nissan Juke Tekna + Dig-T S-A - 92.5%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• 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?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/volkswagen-golf-active-tsi"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/volkswagen-golf-active-tsi.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi MOT Pass Rate: 92.6% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/volkswagen-golf-active-tsi"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/volkswagen-golf-active-tsi.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Volkswagen Golf Active Tsi most common MOT failure: A tyre seriously damaged (4% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate