Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 5,428 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 9.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a MOT Reliability Overview
The Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 5,428 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.0% and a failure rate of 9.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a presents for MOT with approximately 29,266 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2022 models achieve the highest pass rate at 92.4%, while 2021 models have the lowest at 90.9%. This 1.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a is Tyres, affecting 10.9% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Visibility at 1.8%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 1.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.9% | 590 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 100 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.4% | 74 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 1.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.5% | 26 |
| 7 | Non-component Advisories | 0.4% | 23 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.3% | 18 |
| 9 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.3% | 16 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 0.2% | 13 |
| 11 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.1% | 7 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 29,266 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 3.71 | 10.9% | 590 |
| Visibility | 0.63 | 1.8% | 100 |
| Suspension | 0.47 | 1.4% | 74 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.40 | 1.2% | 63 |
| Brakes | 0.21 | 0.6% | 34 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.16 | 0.5% | 26 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.14 | 0.4% | 23 |
| Seat Belts | 0.11 | 0.3% | 18 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.10 | 0.3% | 16 |
| Wheels | 0.08 | 0.2% | 13 |
| Body & Structure | 0.04 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Other | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a has 29,266 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.08% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a MOT Data
The Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 5,428 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.0% and a failure rate of 9.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and visibility for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Golf R-line Etsi S-a is likely to perform.
Tyres — 10.9% of failures
Tyres issues account for 10.9% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Visibility — 1.8% of failures
Visibility issues account for 1.8% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.
Suspension — 1.4% of failures
Suspension issues account for 1.4% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a?
Based on 5,428 MOT tests in our database, the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a has an overall pass rate of 91.0% (9.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a?
The top 3 reasons a Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (10.9%), 2. Visibility (1.8%), 3. Suspension (1.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a reliable?
With a 9.0% MOT failure rate, the Golf R-line Etsi S-a is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Volkswagen Golf R-line Etsi S-a?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (10.9%); Visibility (1.8%); Suspension (1.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.