Skip to main content

Volkswagen GOLF - 1988

266.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1988 is 253.5 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 1988. Sample size: 812 cars, 1,514 tests and 4,034 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 812 cars

The 1988 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 266 per 100 vehicles, which is 7% higher than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, the Golf experiences a significantly higher defect rate in brake issues, with 116 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 93. In contrast, it performs better than average in steering and equipment defects, with rates of 20 and 12 per 100 vehicles, respectively, compared to 27 and 18. Mileage trends indicate that the defect rates increase with higher mileage, especially in the 0-31,000 and 62,000-93,000 mile segments.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 812 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

Volkswagen AMAROK Volkswagen ARTEON Volkswagen BEETLE Volkswagen BORA Volkswagen CADDY Volkswagen CALIFORNIA Volkswagen CAMPER Volkswagen CARAVELLE Volkswagen CC Volkswagen CORRADO Volkswagen CRAFTER Volkswagen E-GOLF Volkswagen E-UP Volkswagen EOS Volkswagen FOX Volkswagen GOLF Volkswagen GRAND CALIFORNIA Volkswagen HIGH UP Volkswagen ID3 Volkswagen ID4 Volkswagen ID5 Volkswagen JETTA Volkswagen LT Volkswagen LUPO Volkswagen MOTOR CARAVAN Volkswagen MOVE UP Volkswagen PASSAT Volkswagen POLO Volkswagen SCIROCCO Volkswagen SHARAN Volkswagen T-CROSS Volkswagen T-ROC Volkswagen TAIGO Volkswagen TIGUAN Volkswagen TOUAREG Volkswagen TOURAN Volkswagen TRANSPORTER Volkswagen UP

Categories

Brakes
▼ 22.1% worse
116.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 95.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • 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
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▲ 27.5% better
20.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 28.0 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▼ 6.1% worse
22.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.4 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper not operating or missing
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 1.9% better
63.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 64.3 / 100 tests
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • 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
▼ 14.8% worse
185.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 161.2 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Body/Structure
▼ 0.3% worse
64.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 64.0 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 33.0% better
12.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.5 / 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
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Audible warning:
  • 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
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▲ 10.3% better
48.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 54.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 480 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)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 301
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 248
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 243
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 233
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 150
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 143
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 129
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 122
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 94

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 70
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 67
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 47
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 44
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 38
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 34
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: 33
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 30