2018 Volkswagen E-Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,767 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Volkswagen E-Golf, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (89.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.2% in the 60-90k group versus 6.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 120 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.6% | 46 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 42 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 37 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 52 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Wipers | 32 |
| 4 | Washers | 21 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 10 |
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 | 21.0% | 371 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.2% | 287 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 107 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 54 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 35 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 21 |
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 | 680 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 928 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 132 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 352 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 348 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 355 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 351 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 361 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 E-Golf
Before buying a 2018 Volkswagen E-Golf, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.8% 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.
- Suspension (2.6% 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.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Volkswagen E-Golfs pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 1,767 2018 Volkswagen E-Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen E-Golf?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by suspension (2.6%).
Does the 2018 E-Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,767 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.