1988 Volkswagen Golf — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

69.5%

Latest Pass Rate

20,991

Total Tests (All Years)

128,275 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 1988 Volkswagen Golf as it ages.

21 yrs42.3%

→ ↑1.5%

22 yrs43.8%

→ ↑0.1%

23 yrs43.9%

→ ↑1.9%

24 yrs45.8%

→ ↑2.0%

25 yrs47.8%

→ ↑0.2%

26 yrs48.0%

→ ↑3.6%

27 yrs51.6%

→ ↑1.0%

28 yrs52.6%

→ ↑3.9%

29 yrs56.5%

→ ↑5.9%

30 yrs62.4%

→ ↓1.5%

31 yrs60.9%

→ ↑2.1%

32 yrs63.0%

→ ↓0.3%

33 yrs62.7%

→ ↑3.1%

34 yrs65.8%

→ ↑3.9%

35 yrs69.7%

→ ↓0.2%

36 yrs69.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	42.3%	3,072
22 yrs	43.8%	2,497
23 yrs	43.9%	2,117
24 yrs	45.8%	1,802
25 yrs	47.8%	1,567
26 yrs	48.0%	1,366
27 yrs	51.6%	1,218
28 yrs	52.6%	1,145
29 yrs	56.5%	1,016
30 yrs	62.4%	688
31 yrs	60.9%	668
32 yrs	63.0%	573
33 yrs	62.7%	754
34 yrs	65.8%	632
35 yrs	69.7%	702
36 yrs	69.5%	1,174

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Volkswagen Golf pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	69.5%	1,174
2023 (35 yrs)	69.7%	702
2022 (34 yrs)	65.8%	632
2021 (33 yrs)	62.7%	754
2020 (32 yrs)	63%	573
2019 (31 yrs)	60.9%	668
2018 (30 yrs)	62.4%	688
2017 (29 yrs)	56.5%	1,016
2016 (28 yrs)	52.6%	1,145
2015 (27 yrs)	51.6%	1,218
2014 (26 yrs)	48%	1,366
2013 (25 yrs)	47.8%	1,567
2012 (24 yrs)	45.8%	1,802
2011 (23 yrs)	43.9%	2,117
2010 (22 yrs)	43.8%	2,497
2009 (21 yrs)	42.3%	3,072

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

42.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 3,072Avg Mileage 118,492Top Failure Suspension — 36.1%

2010High Fail Rate

43.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 2,497Avg Mileage 119,379Top Failure Suspension — 35.2%

2011High Fail Rate

43.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 2,117Avg Mileage 121,585Top Failure Suspension — 35.9%

2012High Fail Rate

45.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,802Avg Mileage 120,438Top Failure Suspension — 37.0%

2013High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 1,567Avg Mileage 122,881Top Failure Suspension — 83.0%

2014High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 1,366Avg Mileage 125,820Top Failure Brakes — 92.0%

2015High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 1,218Avg Mileage 124,285Top Failure Suspension — 83.1%

2016High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 1,145Avg Mileage 123,790Top Failure Suspension — 68.4%

2017High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 1,016Avg Mileage 125,599Top Failure Suspension — 62.1%

2018High Fail Rate

62.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 688Avg Mileage 122,726Top Failure Brakes — 50.7%

2019High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 668Avg Mileage 123,831Top Failure Brakes — 49.7%

2020High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 573Avg Mileage 129,572Top Failure Brakes — 57.1%

2021High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 754Avg Mileage 127,088Top Failure Brakes — 56.4%

2022

65.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 632Avg Mileage 126,267Top Failure Brakes — 48.4%

2023

69.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 702Avg Mileage 126,502Top Failure Brakes — 43.7%

2024

69.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 1,174Avg Mileage 128,275Top Failure Brakes — 37.8%

MOT results for 1988 Volkswagen Golf by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	42.3%	3,072	118,492	Suspension — 36.1%
2010	22	43.8%	2,497	119,379	Suspension — 35.2%
2011	23	43.9%	2,117	121,585	Suspension — 35.9%
2012	24	45.8%	1,802	120,438	Suspension — 37.0%
2013	25	47.8%	1,567	122,881	Suspension — 83.0%
2014	26	48.0%	1,366	125,820	Brakes — 92.0%
2015	27	51.6%	1,218	124,285	Suspension — 83.1%
2016	28	52.6%	1,145	123,790	Suspension — 68.4%
2017	29	56.5%	1,016	125,599	Suspension — 62.1%
2018	30	62.4%	688	122,726	Brakes — 50.7%
2019	31	60.9%	668	123,831	Brakes — 49.7%
2020	32	63.0%	573	129,572	Brakes — 57.1%
2021	33	62.7%	754	127,088	Brakes — 56.4%
2022	34	65.8%	632	126,267	Brakes — 48.4%
2023	35	69.7%	702	126,502	Brakes — 43.7%
2024	36	69.5%	1,174	128,275	Brakes — 37.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Volkswagen Golf, with age trends.

Brakes

53.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

51.0%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

49.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

40.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

29.0%

↑ Increases 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	34.1% (21 yrs)	37.8% (36 yrs)	+3.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	36.1% (21 yrs)	33.2% (36 yrs)	-2.9%	🟢 ↓

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 20,991 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.