Know Your MOT
24.8%fail rate

Volkswagen Golf Fsi common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Volkswagen Golf Fsi fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 2,585 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 24.8% of MOT tests recorded on the Volkswagen Golf Fsi in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is lamps & electrical, which makes up 2.0% of the Volkswagen Golf Fsi's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, other, suspension, tyres. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical2.0% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Other1.7% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Suspension1.4% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Tyres0.5% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Visibility/wipers0.3% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Exhaust & emissions0.3% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: Volkswagen Golf Fsi headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Volkswagen Golf Fsi headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Volkswagen Golf Fsi headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Volkswagen Golf Fsi suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Volkswagen Golf Fsi suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Volkswagen Golf Fsi suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Volkswagen Golf Fsi tyresSearch Amazon for Volkswagen Golf Fsi tyresaffiliate searchFind Volkswagen Golf Fsi tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Volkswagen Golf Fsi wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Volkswagen Golf Fsi wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Volkswagen Golf Fsi wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Volkswagen Golf Fsi exhaustSearch Amazon for Volkswagen Golf Fsi exhaustaffiliate searchFind Volkswagen Golf Fsi exhaust on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Volkswagen Golf MOT failures24.9% failure rateVolkswagen Polo MOT failures27.1% failure rateVolkswagen Passat MOT failures26.3% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain