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Volkswagen GOLF - 1997

339.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 1997. Sample size: 1,089 cars, 2,186 tests and 7,411 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,089 cars

The 1997 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 339 defects per 100 vehicles, slightly higher than the yearly average of 335 defects, indicating its performance is comparable to similar models from that year. Notably, the defect rate increases significantly with mileage, peaking at 531 defects per 100 vehicles for those with over 124,000 miles. This model does not stand out in any specific defect category, but it shows a trend of increasing issues as the mileage rises, which is consistent with general expectations for vehicles of this age.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,089 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
▼ 10.2% worse
155.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▲ 12.0% better
24.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • 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
Visibility
▲ 4.0% better
24.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 8.1% better
60.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • 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
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 0.8% worse
252.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • 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
Body/Structure
▲ 3.9% better
80.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 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
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 14.9% better
18.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 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
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • 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
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 1.6% worse
62.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 535 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: 622
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 483
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 436
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 359
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 339
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 283
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 271
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 264
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 250
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 184

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 110
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 110
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 91
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 86
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 83
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 64
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 55
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 49
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 48
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 47