Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 14.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,825 individual Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate91.3%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+14.6 points
Tests analysed2,825
Average mileage at test29,610 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank503 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 91.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 9 in every 100 Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-As 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 R-Line Etsi S-A tested had covered 29,610 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 R-Line Etsi S-A sits 14.6 points above the national average, ranked 503 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 R-Line Etsi S-A 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 R-Line Etsi S-As at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A

  1. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.3% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.7% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.3% of tests
  4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.9% of tests
  5. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  6. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.2% of tests
  8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.2% of tests
  9. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.2% of tests
  10. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.2% of tests

From 2,815 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.29% of these flagged Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A 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 R-Line Etsi S-A

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 R-Line Etsi S-A 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, 7.6% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 22.3% of tests, also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.8% of tests, also fails
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 1.4% of tests
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.7% of tests
  6. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.4% of tests
  7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.3% of tests
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.2% of tests
  9. A body panel or body component damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure, 0.1% of tests (2.94x the national rate for this advisory)
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.1% of tests

From 2,815 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A pass rate by model year

From its 2020 to its 2021 model year, the Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A's first-time pass rate has fallen 0.8 points, from 92.2% to 91.4%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A year:

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Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A MOT pass rate badge: 91.3%

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Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A most common MOT failure: A tyre cords visible or damaged (2.3% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/volkswagen-golf-r-line-etsi-s-a"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/volkswagen-golf-r-line-etsi-s-a.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Volkswagen Golf R-Line Etsi S-A most common MOT failure: A tyre cords visible or damaged (2.3% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate