Reliability report
Volkswagen Golf reliability and common faults
Based on 1,407,651 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
22.3%
fail rate · average 25.7%
much better than average
782,510 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
42.2%
with defects · average 44.9%
better than average
310,180 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
48.1%
first-time pass · average 45.3%
better than average
314,961 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Volkswagen Golf
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Wheels
Suspension
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Tyres
Brakes
Plates and identification
Exhaust and emissions
Driving controls
Lights and electrics
Steering
Visibility
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre insufficient tread
- 4Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 5Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 6Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 7Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 8Shock absorber shows leakage
- 9Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 10Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 11Spring broken or cracked
- 12Steering gear dust cover damaged, not sealing
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 7.4% avg 9.9% | 23.5% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 11.4% avg 15.3% | 35.4% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 15.1% avg 22.9% | 41.9% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 27.4% avg 30.3% | 49.0% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 34.3% avg 34.6% | 60.8% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 33.7% avg 31.4% | 67.3% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Golf | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89.7% | 86.7% | 377 |
| 2020 | 84.2% | 78.6% | 455 |
| 2019 | 90.1% | 83.2% | 2,003 |
| 2018 | 89.3% | 79.5% | 2,168 |
| 2017 | 84.1% | 76.6% | 3,315 |
| 2016 | 82.6% | 72.8% | 3,008 |
| 2015 | 79.9% | 71.1% | 4,258 |
| 2014 | 80.4% | 68.0% | 3,870 |
| 2013 | 75.4% | 65.9% | 4,738 |
| 2012 | 69.0% | 63.7% | 5,361 |
| 2011 | 67.6% | 61.2% | 7,520 |
| 2010 | 63.9% | 57.3% | 8,736 |
| 2009 | 59.8% | 54.5% | 12,046 |
| 2008 | 56.0% | 52.4% | 14,721 |
| 2007 | 53.6% | 50.6% | 14,191 |
Volkswagen Golf – FAQs
How reliable is the Volkswagen Golf?+
In the UK the Volkswagen Golf fails 22.3% of MOT tests, against an average of 25.7% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 42.2% of APK inspections (average there 44.9%) – better than average. In Lithuania 48.1% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 45.3%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Volkswagen Golf?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, suspension, seat belts and airbags, body and structure.
What should I check when buying a used Volkswagen Golf?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Excessive leakage of other fluids; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Volkswagen models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).