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Volkswagen GOLF - 2018

108.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2018 is 123.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 2018. Sample size: 67,211 cars, 147,016 tests and 159,295 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 67,211 cars

The 2018 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 108 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 9.7% lower than the average rate for cars of the same year. This model exhibits a notable increase in defect rates as mileage increases, particularly in the categories of Brakes and Steering, where it performs significantly better than average, at 53% and 0.36% respectively. Additionally, the Golf shows fewer issues with Visibility, Lights & Electrics, and Body/Structure, all of which also fall below average defect rates. Overall, while tyre wear is common across many vehicles, the Golf stands out for its superior performance in several critical areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 67,211 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 22.8% better
53.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 92.0% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.0 / 100 tests
  • 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: damaged or deteriorated
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 30.9% better
9.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.9 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • 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
▲ 54.0% better
8.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.6 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • 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
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 10.7% worse
140.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 126.7 / 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 tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 76.5% better
1.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
  • 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
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▲ 59.1% better
0.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.2 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt:
Other
▲ 52.9% better
3.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 307 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: 33,469
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 26,751
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 22,113
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 17,966
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 12,337
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,983
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,913
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 2,950
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,813
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,590

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,983
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,590
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,115
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,805
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,697
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 882
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 839
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 513
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 432
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 373