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Volkswagen GOLF - 2003

392.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 2003. Sample size: 17,238 cars, 37,507 tests and 147,170 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 17,238 cars

The 2003 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 392 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly higher than the average of 378 per 100, marking a 3.7% increase. Notably, the model shows a significant rise in defects as mileage increases, with a defect rate of 523 per 100 for cars over 124,000 miles. In terms of performance, the Golf stands out positively in the categories of Lights & Electrics and Equipment, where it has significantly lower defect rates compared to the average. However, it performs worse in Brakes and Steering, with defect rates that are notably higher than the yearly average.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 17,238 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
▼ 27.3% worse
215.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▼ 53.2% worse
38.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • 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
Visibility
▲ 7.7% better
27.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 37.3% better
64.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 1.0% better
299.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▼ 10.6% worse
72.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • 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
Equipment
▲ 28.7% better
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 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: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • 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
▼ 9.7% worse
57.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • 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 default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 538 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: 12,049
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 11,035
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,569
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,404
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,114
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,758
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,117
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,162
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,613
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,664

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,571
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,691
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,404
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,317
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,109
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,078
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 980
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 929
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 771
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 759