2007 Volkswagen Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Volkswagen Golf passed 73.1% of its 297,023 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.0% 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 (14.0%) and suspension (13.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 22,816 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.7% in the 0-30k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.5% fail against 28.3% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 297,023 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 41,686 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 40,422 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 26,527 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 22,108 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 18,476 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 16,196 |
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 | 22,816 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 17,104 |
| 3 | Joints | 14,919 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 14,073 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 13,646 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 12,046 |
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 | 37.4% | 111,103 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.7% | 91,153 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.7% | 70,446 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 53,951 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 48,183 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 33,045 |
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 | 1,912 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 14,647 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 48,195 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 85,276 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 80,047 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 66,693 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 150,127 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 146,896 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72,876 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 67,004 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 60,477 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 52,477 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 44,189 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Golf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 2007 Volkswagen Golfs pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 297,023 2007 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Golf?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2007 Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 297,023 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.