1991 Volkswagen Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
10,210 MOT tests on the 1991 Volkswagen Golf are in this dataset, and 78.8% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 20.2%, so the 1991 Golf sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.6% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and non catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 558 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Golf fails 21.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.8% in 2021 to 19.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 1,284 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 965 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 816 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 744 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 575 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 440 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 558 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 448 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 418 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 406 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 339 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 331 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 26.7% | 2,724 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.9% | 2,445 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 1,665 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 1,559 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.1% | 1,335 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 752 |
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 | 184 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 408 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,202 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,095 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,720 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 3,550 | 22.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,910 | 21.1% |
| Diesel | 298 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,218 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 2,178 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 2,059 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 1,898 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 1,857 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Golf
On a 1991 Golf, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.0% 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
How many 1991 Volkswagen Golfs pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 10,210 1991 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Volkswagen Golf?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by brakes (9.4%).
Does the 1991 Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,210 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.