1985 Volkswagen Golf — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

73.4%

Latest Pass Rate

6,761

Total Tests (All Years)

109,836 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1985 Volkswagen Golf as it ages.

24 yrs44.3%

→ ↑5.4%

25 yrs49.7%

→ ↓0.3%

26 yrs49.4%

→ ↓1.0%

27 yrs48.4%

→ ↑3.4%

28 yrs51.8%

→ ↓2.0%

29 yrs49.8%

→ ↑2.8%

30 yrs52.6%

→ ↑4.3%

31 yrs56.9%

→ ↑2.5%

32 yrs59.4%

→ ↑2.8%

33 yrs62.2%

→ ↓3.5%

34 yrs58.7%

→ ↑0.4%

35 yrs59.1%

→ ↑5.3%

36 yrs64.4%

→ ↓1.2%

37 yrs63.2%

→ ↑1.2%

38 yrs64.4%

→ ↑9.0%

39 yrs73.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	44.3%	837
25 yrs	49.7%	719
26 yrs	49.4%	613
27 yrs	48.4%	535
28 yrs	51.8%	463
29 yrs	49.8%	452
30 yrs	52.6%	447
31 yrs	56.9%	392
32 yrs	59.4%	367
33 yrs	62.2%	241
34 yrs	58.7%	254
35 yrs	59.1%	203
36 yrs	64.4%	284
37 yrs	63.2%	247
38 yrs	64.4%	264
39 yrs	73.4%	443

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Volkswagen Golf pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	73.4%	443
2023 (38 yrs)	64.4%	264
2022 (37 yrs)	63.2%	247
2021 (36 yrs)	64.4%	284
2020 (35 yrs)	59.1%	203
2019 (34 yrs)	58.7%	254
2018 (33 yrs)	62.2%	241
2017 (32 yrs)	59.4%	367
2016 (31 yrs)	56.9%	392
2015 (30 yrs)	52.6%	447
2014 (29 yrs)	49.8%	452
2013 (28 yrs)	51.8%	463
2012 (27 yrs)	48.4%	535
2011 (26 yrs)	49.4%	613
2010 (25 yrs)	49.7%	719
2009 (24 yrs)	44.3%	837

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

44.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 837Avg Mileage 101,952Top Failure Suspension — 35.0%

2010High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 719Avg Mileage 103,247Top Failure Suspension — 31.7%

2011High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 613Avg Mileage 102,500Top Failure Suspension — 30.7%

2012High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 535Avg Mileage 101,813Top Failure Suspension — 32.1%

2013High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 463Avg Mileage 99,688Top Failure Brakes — 81.4%

2014High Fail Rate

49.8%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 452Avg Mileage 101,622Top Failure Suspension — 84.1%

2015High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 447Avg Mileage 102,453Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.5%

2016High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 392Avg Mileage 104,429Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.6%

2017High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 367Avg Mileage 107,086Top Failure Suspension — 59.7%

2018High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 241Avg Mileage 106,967Top Failure Brakes — 61.8%

2019High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 254Avg Mileage 105,820Top Failure Brakes — 65.7%

2020High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 203Avg Mileage 109,515Top Failure Suspension — 51.7%

2021High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 284Avg Mileage 111,050Top Failure Brakes — 45.8%

2022High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 247Avg Mileage 99,082Top Failure Brakes — 54.7%

2023High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 264Avg Mileage 106,547Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 40.2%

2024

73.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 443Avg Mileage 109,836Top Failure Suspension — 21.4%

MOT results for 1985 Volkswagen Golf by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	44.3%	837	101,952	Suspension — 35.0%
2010	25	49.7%	719	103,247	Suspension — 31.7%
2011	26	49.4%	613	102,500	Suspension — 30.7%
2012	27	48.4%	535	101,813	Suspension — 32.1%
2013	28	51.8%	463	99,688	Brakes — 81.4%
2014	29	49.8%	452	101,622	Suspension — 84.1%
2015	30	52.6%	447	102,453	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.5%
2016	31	56.9%	392	104,429	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.6%
2017	32	59.4%	367	107,086	Suspension — 59.7%
2018	33	62.2%	241	106,967	Brakes — 61.8%
2019	34	58.7%	254	105,820	Brakes — 65.7%
2020	35	59.1%	203	109,515	Suspension — 51.7%
2021	36	64.4%	284	111,050	Brakes — 45.8%
2022	37	63.2%	247	99,082	Brakes — 54.7%
2023	38	64.4%	264	106,547	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 40.2%
2024	39	73.4%	443	109,836	Suspension — 21.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Volkswagen Golf, with age trends.

Brakes

49.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

46.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

44.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

40.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

25.8%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	33.0% (24 yrs)	17.2% (39 yrs)	-15.8%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	35.0% (24 yrs)	21.4% (39 yrs)	-13.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Golf page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Golf cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 6,761 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.