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Volkswagen GOLF - 1998

385.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 1998. Sample size: 1,272 cars, 2,596 tests and 10,005 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,272 cars

The 1998 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 385 per 100 vehicles, which is 14% higher than the average for its year at 339 per 100. This model particularly stands out with a significant increase in defects related to brakes, visibility, and other issues compared to the yearly average. Specifically, the Golf shows a 31% higher rate for brake defects and a 24% increase for visibility problems. While it performs better in terms of equipment issues, with a 20% lower defect rate compared to the average, the trends indicate that as mileage increases, so do the defect rates, especially beyond 124,000 miles.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,272 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
▼ 30.2% worse
194.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 1.6% better
25.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 23.2% worse
32.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 12.1% better
58.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 18.9% worse
306.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 22.2% better
62.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • 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
Equipment
▲ 24.5% better
15.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 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
▼ 28.1% worse
75.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 543 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)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 781
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 690
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 623
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 610
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 436
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 425
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 389
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 361
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 255
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 254

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 182
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 85
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 82
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 82
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 73
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 71
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: 68
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 67
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 65