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Volkswagen GOLF - 2016

127.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 2016. Sample size: 70,951 cars, 149,473 tests and 190,575 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 70,951 cars

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf shows a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 128 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 16% better than the average of 151 defects per 100. It performs particularly well in categories such as steering, visibility, and lights & electrics, all showing significantly fewer defects than the average. Notably, the Golf's performance tends to worsen with mileage, as defect rates increase across all mileage segments, though still remain below the average rates for each category. Overall, this model demonstrates strong reliability, particularly in critical areas of vehicle performance.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 70,951 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

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 13.7% better
67.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 81.5% better
1.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • 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.
  • 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
▲ 32.7% better
10.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 59.1% better
10.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 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
  • 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
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 2.7% better
155.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 76.9% better
2.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 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
  • Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
  • 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
▲ 45.5% better
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 43.4% better
6.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 329 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: 35,871
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 24,517
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 23,743
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18,720
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 14,106
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,142
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,069
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,391
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 4,132
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 3,348

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 4,132
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,818
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,537
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,020
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,562
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 983
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 860
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 755
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 652
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 580