2022 Volkswagen Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,113 MOT tests, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf recorded a 93.7% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (7.9% fail rate), the 2022 Golf comes out 1.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and visibility (1.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 408 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.1% in the 0-30k band and 14.1% in the 90-120k band, a 9.0-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than hybrid ones (8.3% vs 5.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,196 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.3% | 372 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 300 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.8% | 231 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 115 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 102 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 408 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 284 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 253 |
| 4 | Washers | 208 |
| 5 | Wipers | 204 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 94 |
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 | 23.3% | 6,535 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.5% | 2,096 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 1,371 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 966 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 699 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 227 |
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 | 17,228 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 9,476 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,185 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 192 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,412 | 6.0% |
| Hybrid | 7,224 | 5.9% |
| Diesel | 3,477 | 8.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 930 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 27,162 | 6.3% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Golf
On a 2022 Golf, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Visibility (1.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2022 Volkswagen Golfs pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 28,113 2022 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Volkswagen Golf?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (1.3%).
Does the 2022 Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,113 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.