MOT fail rates by first-use year
2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volkswagen Golf cars first used in 2016 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 263,067 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 9 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 9 years old, Volkswagen Golf cars first used in 2016 failed 15.9% of MOTs (64,837 tests), 11.2 points below the 27.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 6 to 9 years old, the fail rate moved from 13.3% to 15.9%.
- Volkswagen Golf cars first used a year earlier, in 2015, failed 17.2% at the same age of 9 years (68,022 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Golf at 9 years, is shock absorber leaking, at 2.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.7).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 years | 13.3% | 66,520 | 17.8% | −4.5 pts |
| 2023 | 7 years | 14.1% | 66,043 | 20.6% | −6.6 pts |
| 2024 | 8 years | 14.9% | 65,667 | 23.8% | −8.8 pts |
| 2025 | 9 years | 15.9% | 64,837 | 27.1% | −11.2 pts |
Most common faults at 9 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Golf MOTs at 9 years: cars first used 2013 to 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=254,947). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorber leaking | 2.3 | 0.7 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Coil spring broken | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| Engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Wear | 0.7 | 1.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=254,947). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorber misting oil | 16.5 | 3.1 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 15.3 | 16.4 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 11.4 | 9.2 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 8.4 | 8.3 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 2.4 | 4.9 |
| Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear | 2.1 | 2.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=254,947). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 9 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Golf MOTs at 9 years: cars first used 2013 to 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=254,947). 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 | 59.0% | 20.3% | 150,386 | 28.3% | 83,598 miles |
| Petrol | 39.8% | 15.6% | 101,565 | 26.3% | 60,766 miles |
| Hybrid | 1.1% | 19.1% | 2,876 | 19.2% | 77,246 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 9 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Golf MOTs at 9 years: cars first used 2013 to 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=254,947). At 9 years, Volkswagen Golf cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (25.7%, n=5,871) than those at under 30,000 miles (9.4%, n=10,816). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 9.4% | 10,816 | 14.3% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 13.2% | 67,645 | 23.0% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 19.0% | 99,601 | 29.4% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 23.3% | 53,123 | 32.8% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 25.2% | 16,880 | 34.1% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 25.7% | 5,871 | 33.8% |
Car tax rules for a 2016 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 from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- 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 2016
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 25.4% | 51,976 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 18.6% | 18,556 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen Passat (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 20.5% | 15,024 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen up! (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 23.6% | 12,873 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen Scirocco (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 21.4% | 5,270 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen Touareg (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 21.4% | 3,833 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen Touran (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 20.3% | 3,674 | 27.1% |
| Volkswagen Sharan (2016) | 9 years in 2025 | 21.0% | 3,235 | 27.1% |
More on the Volkswagen Golf
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2016 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.