MOT fail rates by first-use year
2012 Volkswagen Golf MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volkswagen Golf cars first used in 2012 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 210,771 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 13 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 13 years old, Volkswagen Golf cars first used in 2012 failed 32.9% of MOTs (51,025 tests), 5.3 points below the 38.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 10 to 13 years old, the fail rate moved from 27.8% to 32.9%.
- Volkswagen Golf cars first used a year earlier, in 2011, failed 35.0% at the same age of 13 years (51,091 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Golf at 13 years, is coil spring broken, at 5.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.1).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 years | 27.8% | 53,817 | 30.3% | −2.5 pts |
| 2023 | 11 years | 29.6% | 53,474 | 33.3% | −3.6 pts |
| 2024 | 12 years | 31.4% | 52,455 | 36.0% | −4.6 pts |
| 2025 | 13 years | 32.9% | 51,025 | 38.3% | −5.3 pts |
Most common faults at 13 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Golf MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=199,841). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring broken | 5.5 | 4.1 |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 4.2 | 1.4 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Shock absorber leaking | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 2.2 | 1.8 |
| Handbrake too weak | 2.2 | 1.7 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | 1.7 | 1.1 |
| Side repeaters: not working Wear | 1.7 | 0.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=199,841). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 19.1 | 18.2 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 11.4 | 4.0 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 11.1 | 8.0 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 7.6 | 7.3 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 5.3 | 3.8 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 4.9 | 5.6 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | 4.8 | 2.1 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 4.8 | 7.2 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=199,841). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 13 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Golf MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=199,841). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 64.1% | 36.6% | 128,178 | 39.1% | 117,471 miles |
| Petrol | 35.9% | 31.4% | 71,660 | 37.7% | 84,626 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 13 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Golf MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=199,841). At 13 years, Volkswagen Golf cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (41.8%, n=27,652) than those at under 30,000 miles (13.8%, n=2,478). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 13.8% | 2,478 | 18.6% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 22.2% | 18,748 | 29.1% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 30.5% | 46,274 | 38.0% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 36.7% | 60,560 | 42.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 39.6% | 42,986 | 43.2% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 41.8% | 27,652 | 43.0% |
Car tax rules for a 2012 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2012 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Volkswagen Golf
Other Volkswagen models first used in 2012
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 39.0% | 37,275 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen Passat (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 35.1% | 13,198 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen up! (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 26.1% | 13,888 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 33.9% | 8,832 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen Touran (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 32.5% | 5,622 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen Scirocco (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 34.8% | 4,195 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen CC (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 30.3% | 2,137 | 38.3% |
| Volkswagen Beetle (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 34.3% | 2,297 | 38.3% |
More on the Volkswagen Golf
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2012 Volkswagen Golf cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.