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Volkswagen GOLF - 2021

73.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen GOLF, model year 2021. Sample size: 31,565 cars, 72,215 tests and 52,889 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 31,565 cars

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 73 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 6.8% lower than the average for cars of the same year at 79 defects per 100 vehicles. Notably, the Golf performs significantly better in categories such as brakes, steering, visibility, and lights and electrics, with defects rates much lower than the average. However, it exhibits a higher rate of defects in the wheels, suspensions, and axles category, standing at 112 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 87. Mileage trends indicate increasing defect rates with higher mileage, consistent with general patterns observed in vehicles.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 31,565 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
▲ 51.3% better
19.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • 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
Steering
▲ 71.4% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 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
▲ 40.0% better
8.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 68.8% better
3.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A lens defective: which has no effect on emitted light
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 27.7% worse
111.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • 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
▲ 81.0% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 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
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
  • 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
Equipment
▲ 20.0% better
1.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
  • 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:
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 44.4% better
1.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 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
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 268 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: 15,331
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 11,249
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,767
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,912
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,723
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,686
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,549
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,319
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,095
A wheel: badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 841

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,549
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,319
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 831
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 733
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 322
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 298
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 237
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 150
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 149
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 129