1987 Volkswagen Golf — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

73.7%

Latest Pass Rate

13,092

Total Tests (All Years)

116,455 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 1987 Volkswagen Golf as it ages.

22 yrs42.1%

→ ↑2.2%

23 yrs44.3%

→ ↑1.8%

24 yrs46.1%

→ ↑0.1%

25 yrs46.2%

→ ↑2.2%

26 yrs48.4%

→ ↑1.7%

27 yrs50.1%

→ ↑3.9%

28 yrs54.0%

→ ↑2.1%

29 yrs56.1%

→ ↑2.2%

30 yrs58.3%

→ ↑1.9%

31 yrs60.2%

→ ↑5.5%

32 yrs65.7%

→ ↑0.4%

33 yrs66.1%

→ ↓1.9%

34 yrs64.2%

→ ↑1.9%

35 yrs66.1%

→ ↑5.2%

36 yrs71.3%

→ ↑2.4%

37 yrs73.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	42.1%	1,788
23 yrs	44.3%	1,469
24 yrs	46.1%	1,255
25 yrs	46.2%	1,050
26 yrs	48.4%	925
27 yrs	50.1%	848
28 yrs	54.0%	779
29 yrs	56.1%	719
30 yrs	58.3%	689
31 yrs	60.2%	450
32 yrs	65.7%	463
33 yrs	66.1%	381
34 yrs	64.2%	536
35 yrs	66.1%	431
36 yrs	71.3%	471
37 yrs	73.7%	838

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Volkswagen Golf pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (37 yrs)	73.7%	838
2023 (36 yrs)	71.3%	471
2022 (35 yrs)	66.1%	431
2021 (34 yrs)	64.2%	536
2020 (33 yrs)	66.1%	381
2019 (32 yrs)	65.7%	463
2018 (31 yrs)	60.2%	450
2017 (30 yrs)	58.3%	689
2016 (29 yrs)	56.1%	719
2015 (28 yrs)	54%	779
2014 (27 yrs)	50.1%	848
2013 (26 yrs)	48.4%	925
2012 (25 yrs)	46.2%	1,050
2011 (24 yrs)	46.1%	1,255
2010 (23 yrs)	44.3%	1,469
2009 (22 yrs)	42.1%	1,788

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

42.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,788Avg Mileage 115,559Top Failure Brakes — 35.6%

2010High Fail Rate

44.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 1,469Avg Mileage 116,944Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.9%

2011High Fail Rate

46.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,255Avg Mileage 117,580Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.4%

2012High Fail Rate

46.2%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 1,050Avg Mileage 118,035Top Failure Brakes — 33.0%

2013High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 925Avg Mileage 123,224Top Failure Brakes — 89.9%

2014High Fail Rate

50.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 848Avg Mileage 120,087Top Failure Brakes — 82.0%

2015High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 779Avg Mileage 122,394Top Failure Brakes — 80.1%

2016High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 719Avg Mileage 122,792Top Failure Brakes — 56.3%

2017High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 689Avg Mileage 124,247Top Failure Brakes — 69.2%

2018High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 450Avg Mileage 119,634Top Failure Brakes — 52.2%

2019

65.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 463Avg Mileage 119,201Top Failure Brakes — 66.1%

2020

66.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 381Avg Mileage 121,294Top Failure Brakes — 45.1%

2021High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 536Avg Mileage 122,432Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 52.8%

2022

66.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 431Avg Mileage 121,196Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 52.0%

2023

71.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 471Avg Mileage 121,438Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.0%

2024

73.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 838Avg Mileage 116,455Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.4%

MOT results for 1987 Volkswagen Golf by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	42.1%	1,788	115,559	Brakes — 35.6%
2010	23	44.3%	1,469	116,944	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.9%
2011	24	46.1%	1,255	117,580	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.4%
2012	25	46.2%	1,050	118,035	Brakes — 33.0%
2013	26	48.4%	925	123,224	Brakes — 89.9%
2014	27	50.1%	848	120,087	Brakes — 82.0%
2015	28	54.0%	779	122,394	Brakes — 80.1%
2016	29	56.1%	719	122,792	Brakes — 56.3%
2017	30	58.3%	689	124,247	Brakes — 69.2%
2018	31	60.2%	450	119,634	Brakes — 52.2%
2019	32	65.7%	463	119,201	Brakes — 66.1%
2020	33	66.1%	381	121,294	Brakes — 45.1%
2021	34	64.2%	536	122,432	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 52.8%
2022	35	66.1%	431	121,196	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 52.0%
2023	36	71.3%	471	121,438	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.0%
2024	37	73.7%	838	116,455	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Volkswagen Golf, with age trends.

Brakes

51.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

49.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

45.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

25.0%

↓ 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	35.6% (22 yrs)	20.3% (37 yrs)	-15.3%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	34.7% (22 yrs)	23.0% (37 yrs)	-11.7%	🟢 ↓

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 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 13,092 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.