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Volkswagen GOLF - 2008

327.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2008 is 340.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 2008. Sample size: 42,047 cars, 94,108 tests and 308,606 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 42,047 cars

The 2008 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 328 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the average of 337 per 100 vehicles, showing a 2.8% improvement. It performs particularly well in the categories of brakes and steering, with defect rates significantly lower than the average, by 25% and 44%, respectively. However, it has a higher incidence of issues related to body structure and equipment, with rates exceeding the average by about 25% and 27%. Mileage trends indicate that as vehicles age, the defect rates for this model increase, particularly in the highest mileage category, where it reflects a more pronounced rise compared to the average. Overall, while the Golf excels in critical areas like brakes and steering, it faces challenges in body and equipment reliability as it ages.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 42,047 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
▲ 23.7% better
101.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 133.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 45.6% better
9.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.0 / 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
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 9.1% better
23.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 31.9% better
62.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 92.2 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 12.5% worse
349.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 310.3 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▼ 20.3% worse
61.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.3 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • 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
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 22.8% worse
12.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 10.1 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
▲ 13.8% better
35.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.2 / 100 tests
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
  • 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 481 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 34,802
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 32,128
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 21,576
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 14,705
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 12,735
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,643
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 10,461
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 9,843
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 9,199
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 7,478

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 7,478
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 5,195
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4,125
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,451
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,286
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,060
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,099
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,940
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,868
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,818