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Volkswagen GOLF - 1989

258.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1989 is 252.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 1989. Sample size: 1,460 cars, 2,645 tests and 6,833 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,460 cars

The 1989 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 258 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly higher than the yearly average of 249 per 100, representing a 3.7% increase. This model shows concerning trends in specific mileage segments, particularly with a significant rise in defects for those with over 124,000 miles, where defects reach 468 per 100. Notably, the Golf excels in steering and equipment defects, with lower rates than the average, but it struggles with brake issues, showing a defect rate of 124 per 100, well above the average of 97 per 100. These insights highlight the Golf's performance strengths and weaknesses compared to similar vehicles from the same year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,460 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

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Categories

Brakes
▼ 27.9% worse
124.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.1 / 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
▲ 37.2% better
16.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.1 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • 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
Visibility
▲ 5.5% better
20.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.0 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 7.3% better
56.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.4 / 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
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 4.0% worse
172.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 165.6 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • 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% worse
63.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.7 / 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
▲ 35.1% better
12.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.5 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • 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
  • 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
Other
▲ 4.9% better
50.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.1 / 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
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 474 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: 552
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 491
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 361
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 283
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 262
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 260
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 250
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 205
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 187
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 136

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 101
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 82
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: 75
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 71
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 63
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 63
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 59
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 52
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 51