2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Volkswagen Golf MOT pass rate and common faults

7,570 MOT tests in 2024. 55.7% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time55.7%
Failed or needed repairs44.3%
Typical mileage at test127,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 7,570 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working4.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.2%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.0%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.2%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.1%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    401 marked dangerous
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.9%
  8. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.8%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.8%
  10. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics26.7%
  2. Brakes23.6%
  3. Suspension21.8%
  4. Emissions & leaks16.9%
  5. Body & chassis11.8%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.1%
  7. Steering6.8%
  8. Tyres6.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded18.8%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.8%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2001 Volkswagen Golf?

In 2024, 55.7% of 2001 Volkswagen Golf cars passed their MOT first time, across 7,570 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Volkswagen Golf?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Volkswagen Golf reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).