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VOLKSWAGEN GOLF Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 72,994 MOT tests from 6,189 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore. The figures below describe that VehicleScore sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are not a claim that every VOLKSWAGEN GOLF has the same fault.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 598/999. The score was calculated from the average of every VOLKSWAGEN GOLF that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF.

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Enter your registration to see available vehicle history information including service records, MOT, mileage, write-off status, outstanding finance and more.

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  • Service history

    Dealer & service records

  • MOT records

    Past & current MOT data

  • Write-off check

    Check for insurance write-offs

  • Finance check

    Outstanding finance & theft checks

Fuel TypeYearReliability ScoreAvg MileageSample Size
N/AN/A817/999Excellent88,097 miles10,253 vehicles
N/AN/A796/999Very good83,718 miles20,602 vehicles
N/AN/A784/999Very good80,302 miles28,320 vehicles
N/AN/A769/999Very good74,966 miles1,759 vehicles
N/AN/A750/999Very good88,058 miles26,024 vehicles
N/AN/A745/999Very good77,273 miles11,508 vehicles
N/AN/A724/999Very good76,519 miles20,739 vehicles
N/AN/A724/999Very good73,883 miles1,352 vehicles
N/AN/A695/999Good76,434 miles27,221 vehicles
N/AN/A692/999Good73,506 miles784 vehicles
N/AN/A678/999Good118,991 miles5,123 vehicles
N/AN/A669/999Good125,230 miles6,628 vehicles
N/AN/A667/999Good127,408 miles5,191 vehicles
N/AN/A667/999Good91,910 miles15,463 vehicles
N/AN/A666/999Good122,809 miles986 vehicles
N/AN/A623/999Good116,950 miles544 vehicles
N/AN/A607/999Good79,806 miles36,075 vehicles
N/AN/A601/999Good87,823 miles8,607 vehicles
N/AN/A582/999Above average103,066 miles776 vehicles
N/AN/A580/999Above average80,049 miles29,147 vehicles
N/AN/A551/999Above average97,856 miles1,582 vehicles
N/AN/A504/999Above average111,692 miles1,015 vehicles
N/AN/A493/999Average86,770 miles14,357 vehicles
N/AN/A480/999Average88,616 miles4,458 vehicles
N/AN/A473/999Average80,136 miles21,355 vehicles
N/AN/A467/999Average103,757 miles1,480 vehicles
N/AN/A441/999Average81,176 miles20,098 vehicles
N/AN/A436/999Average81,100 miles20,590 vehicles
N/AN/A425/999Average86,401 miles19,001 vehicles
N/AN/A414/999Average88,645 miles11,219 vehicles
N/AN/A410/999Average86,664 miles13,259 vehicles
N/AN/A409/999Average82,640 miles15,323 vehicles
N/AN/A407/999Average83,685 miles14,375 vehicles

How reliable is the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF?

Based on 72,994 MOT tests from 6,189 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore.

Vehicles

6,189

MOT tests

72,994

Pass rate

80.2%

Median mileage

93,163 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every VOLKSWAGEN GOLF has the same fault. The median VehicleScore in this sample is 668 out of 999.

Common VOLKSWAGEN GOLF MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 13,132 advisory comments and 1,313 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 2,941 advisory comments and 437 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS LIGHT MISTING OF OIL (5.3.2 (B))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 2,336 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 2,217 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Oil leak

VehicleScore MOT data includes 1,731 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 1,077 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED OR BROKEN (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Anti-roll bar issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 453 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record wear or damage in the anti-roll bar, its links, or its bushes.

What to inspect

Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR LINKAGE BALL JOINT DUST COVER NO LONGER PREVENTS THE INGRESS OF DIRT (5.3.4 (B) (II))

Engine warning lamp

VehicleScore MOT data includes 352 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an engine warning lamp that was on, or did not work, during the inspection.

What to inspect

Switch on the ignition and confirm the lamp comes on and then goes out. Ask what was diagnosed if it stayed on.

Example MOT wording: ENGINE MIL INOPERATIVE OR INDICATES A MALFUNCTION (8.2.1.2 (H))

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

YearVehiclesMOT testsPass rateRecurring issues seen
202660757.1%No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2025754100%No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
202457771.4%No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023979592.6%Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
20228116290.1%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
202110736189.8%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
202013556589.4%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2019227124689.5%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2018376256087.2%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2017447344988.5%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2016458390787%Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2015473438785.8%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2014507539284.1%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2013476554382.6%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2012327433980%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2011347505079.9%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2010309503777.7%Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2009305542878.8%Tyre wear, Corrosion
2008222408778.6%Tyre wear, Corrosion
2007212431477%Tyre wear, Oil leak
2006154340274.5%Tyre wear, Suspension arm issues
2005104226775%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
200469168972.4%Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
200378191374.6%Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
200271186572.8%Tyre wear, Oil leak
20014095174.1%Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
20004094072.4%Tyre wear, Oil leak
19991633473.4%Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
1998715469.5%Tyre wear, Oil leak
1997919968.8%Corrosion, Tyre wear
1996714765.3%Corrosion, Exhaust
199555269.2%Corrosion, Brake pad wear
19921014479.2%Corrosion, Oil leak
19911520168.7%Corrosion, Tyre wear
19901225273.4%Corrosion, Coil spring issues
19891216465.9%Corrosion, Parking brake faults
19881014472.2%Corrosion, Brake disc wear
198775472.2%Corrosion, Exhaust
198474367.4%Corrosion, Ball joint wear
1983911471.9%Corrosion, Tyre wear
198261566.7%Tyre wear, Oil leak

What to check when buying a used VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

  • Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

  • Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

  • Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

  • Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

  • Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

  • Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

  • Anti-roll bar issues. Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.

  • Engine warning lamp. Switch on the ignition and confirm the lamp comes on and then goes out. Ask what was diagnosed if it stayed on.

Buying a VOLKSWAGEN GOLF?

Common problems tell you what can affect VOLKSWAGEN GOLFs generally. VehicleScore can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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