MOT performance
2016 Volkswagen Golf: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 131,091 MOT tests on 2016-registered Volkswagen Golfs in 2023–2024 (on average 6.9 years old at test, median 60,009 miles), 85.5% passed first time, 11.5 points higher than the Volkswagen Golf overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2016 Volkswagen Golfs failed 37% less often than comparable cars.
131,091 MOT tests on 65,468 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 85.5% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 131,091 |
| All Volkswagen Golfs | 73.9% | n = 1,817,206 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.63× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 5.7% | n = 131,091 |
| Average age at test | 6.9 years | n = 131,091 |
Where 2016 Volkswagen Golfs fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 6.1% | -6% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.8% | -58% |
| Suspension | 2.4% | -56% |
| Brakes | 2.4% | -50% |
| Driver's view of the road | 1.9% | -46% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.1% | -44% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.3% | -78% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | Same |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.2% | -54% |
| Steering | 0.2% | -79% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% | -16% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.77% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.45% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.42% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 1.36% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.10% |
Check a specific 2016 Volkswagen Golf
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.