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Volkswagen GOLF - 2012

226.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 2012. Sample size: 55,527 cars, 124,971 tests and 283,121 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 55,527 cars

The 2012 Volkswagen Golf has a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 227 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 8% better than the average of 246 defects. Notably, this model shows impressive performance in several categories, including a significantly lower rate of steering defects at just 2 defects per 100, compared to the average of 13. Other standout areas include lights and electrics, body structure, and equipment, where the Golf also performs better than typical averages. Mileage-related trends indicate an increasing defect rate as miles accumulate, consistent with general patterns observed in vehicles. Overall, while tyre wear may be a common issue, this model excels in critical safety and structural areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 55,527 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
▲ 13.8% better
89.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 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
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 87.9% better
1.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • 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.
  • EPS MIL indicating a system malfunction
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 13.5% better
16.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 56.4% better
27.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • 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
▼ 15.6% worse
282.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 26.7% better
19.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 41.9% better
3.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt:
Other
▲ 44.5% better
13.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • 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
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 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: 39,787
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 34,965
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18,610
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 17,484
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 17,136
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 16,127
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,666
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,176
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,329
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 5,941

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 5,941
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 4,987
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4,594
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,914
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,150
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,542
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,239
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,213
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,968
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,887