Volkswagen E-Golf MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen E-Golf appears in 26,802 MOT tests spanning model years 2014–2022, and 89.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.2% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 531 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.0% once past 90-120k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every E-Golf model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,767 | 89.6% | 10.4% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 16,172 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 8,746 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 103 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.2% | 2,203 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 480 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 419 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 329 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 105 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 69 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.2% | 44 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 36 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 531 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 479 |
| 3 | Wipers | 273 |
| 4 | Washers | 266 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 263 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 72 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 58 |
| 8 | Attachment | 47 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.7% | 7,412 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 3,226 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 1,517 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 815 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 600 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 169 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 13,787 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 11,279 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,530 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 180 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 448 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 4,620 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 7,287 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 7,139 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 7,308 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen E-Golf
- Tyres (8.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (1.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (1.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen E-Golf?
89.5% of the 26,802 Volkswagen E-Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.5% fail rate, across model years 2014–2022.
What does the Volkswagen E-Golf most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 8.2% of tests, then visibility (1.8%).
How much does mileage affect E-Golf MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 20.0% for 90-120k, a 11.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,802 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.