2001 Volkswagen Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
65,324 MOT tests on the 2001 Volkswagen Golf are in this dataset, and 71.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and suspension (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, pins and bushes and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 4,567 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.7% of the time against 29.0% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.8% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 9,667 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 8,425 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 6,979 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 5,516 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 5,022 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 3,366 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 4,567 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,817 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 3,631 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,085 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,552 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,508 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.4% | 25,723 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.0% | 24,157 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 17,333 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.1% | 12,458 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 12,333 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.8% | 11,601 |
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 | 433 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,246 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 9,783 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 14,943 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 15,513 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 21,148 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 44,379 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 20,945 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,896 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 15,343 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 12,562 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 10,256 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 8,267 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Golf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% 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.
- Brakes (10.7% 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.
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 2001 Volkswagen Golfs pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 65,324 2001 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Golf?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (12.9%).
Does the 2001 Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 65,324 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.