2002 Volkswagen Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 113,366 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Volkswagen Golf, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 72.2% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.7% in the 150k+ group versus 19.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 17,142 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 13,773 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 12,039 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 10,376 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 7,547 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.9% | 6,685 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 6,553 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 6,358 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5,829 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 5,613 |
| 5 | Joints | 5,220 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 5,127 |
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 | 40.0% | 45,326 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.3% | 38,826 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 31,143 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 21,745 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 21,077 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.0% | 19,320 |
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 | 628 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,523 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 13,613 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 22,601 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 26,458 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 45,294 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 57,286 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 56,080 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,812 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 26,498 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 22,006 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 18,098 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 14,952 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Golf
Before buying a 2002 Volkswagen Golf, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (10.6% 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 2002 Volkswagen Golfs pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 113,366 2002 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volkswagen Golf?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2002 Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 113,366 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.