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Volkswagen GOLF - 1985

238.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1985 is 240.5 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 1985. Sample size: 274 cars, 489 tests and 1,165 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 274 cars

The 1985 Volkswagen Golf shows an overall defect rate of 238 per 100 vehicles, which is nearly identical to the yearly average of 238 per 100. Notably, this model performs significantly better than average in steering, with only 14 defects per 100 compared to the average of 31, and it also has fewer issues in lights and electrics and equipment. While defects tend to increase with mileage, the Golf's performance remains relatively stable across different mileage segments, although it faces higher defect rates in the 31,000 to 93,000-mile range compared to the yearly average. Overall, the Golf's standout categories indicate a reliable vehicle, especially in steering-related concerns.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 274 cars

More model years for Volkswagen GOLF

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▼ 13.2% worse
94.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.5 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
Steering
▲ 56.6% better
13.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 31.1 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Excessive roughness in operation of steering
Visibility
▼ 14.7% worse
25.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.5 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 23.6% better
43.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 57.3 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 11.0% worse
178.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 160.6 / 100 tests
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 3.2% better
54.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 55.8 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 30.5% better
12.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.7 / 100 tests
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
  • Audible warning not in accordance with requirements
  • Audible warning:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 3.4% worse
54.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.6 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine is idling clearly above its normal idle speed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 464 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 113
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 103
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 70
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 65
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 49
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 38
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 35
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 33
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 31

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Service brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 8