Petrol Volkswagen Golf: MOT pass rate

80.3% of petrol Volkswagen Golfs pass the MOT first time, measured across 402,617 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 77,612.

Petrol against the other Volkswagen Golf versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volkswagen Golf specifically, electric is the strongest at 87.8%, and this petrol version sits 2.8 points above the 77.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Volkswagen Golf is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Volkswagen Golf had covered 77,612 miles at test, against 110,181 for the diesel and 62,324 for the hybrid and 47,906 for the electric. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volkswagen Golf page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Volkswagen Golf

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.4% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.7% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)
4. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.1% of tests (1.68x 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% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this defect)
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.3% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.8% of tests
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.4% of tests
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.2% of tests

From 404,815 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Golf tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Golf's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.44% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Volkswagen Golf

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 13.5% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.5% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
3. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 1.7% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.8% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.7% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.1% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.2% of tests, also fails
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 17.7% of tests, also fails
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12% of tests, also fails
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.9% of tests

From 404,815 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Golf tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Golf fuel types

• Diesel Volkswagen Golf - 74.7%
• Hybrid Volkswagen Golf - 86.5%
• Electric Volkswagen Golf - 87.8%

All Volkswagen Golf MOT data · Every model