1989 Volkswagen Golf — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

72.6%

Latest Pass Rate

36,351

Total Tests (All Years)

123,593 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 1989 Volkswagen Golf as it ages.

20 yrs42.9%

→ ↑1.3%

21 yrs44.2%

→ ↑1.6%

22 yrs45.8%

→ ↑0.1%

23 yrs45.9%

→ ↑2.3%

24 yrs48.2%

→ ↑0.5%

25 yrs48.7%

→ ↑6.5%

26 yrs55.2%

→ ↑1.4%

27 yrs56.6%

→ ↑1.2%

28 yrs57.8%

→ ↑0.6%

29 yrs58.4%

→ ↑3.2%

30 yrs61.6%

→ ↑0.8%

31 yrs62.4%

→ ↑2.5%

32 yrs64.9%

→ ↑2.2%

33 yrs67.1%

→ ↑2.2%

34 yrs69.3%

→ ↑3.3%

35 yrs72.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	42.9%	5,089
21 yrs	44.2%	4,250
22 yrs	45.8%	3,595
23 yrs	45.9%	3,098
24 yrs	48.2%	2,651
25 yrs	48.7%	2,380
26 yrs	55.2%	2,175
27 yrs	56.6%	1,974
28 yrs	57.8%	1,771
29 yrs	58.4%	1,227
30 yrs	61.6%	1,173
31 yrs	62.4%	1,051
32 yrs	64.9%	1,352
33 yrs	67.1%	1,144
34 yrs	69.3%	1,308
35 yrs	72.6%	2,113

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Volkswagen Golf pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	72.6%	2,113
2023 (34 yrs)	69.3%	1,308
2022 (33 yrs)	67.1%	1,144
2021 (32 yrs)	64.9%	1,352
2020 (31 yrs)	62.4%	1,051
2019 (30 yrs)	61.6%	1,173
2018 (29 yrs)	58.4%	1,227
2017 (28 yrs)	57.8%	1,771
2016 (27 yrs)	56.6%	1,974
2015 (26 yrs)	55.2%	2,175
2014 (25 yrs)	48.7%	2,380
2013 (24 yrs)	48.2%	2,651
2012 (23 yrs)	45.9%	3,098
2011 (22 yrs)	45.8%	3,595
2010 (21 yrs)	44.2%	4,250
2009 (20 yrs)	42.9%	5,089

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

42.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 5,089Avg Mileage 118,502Top Failure Suspension — 34.8%

2010High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 4,250Avg Mileage 120,350Top Failure Suspension — 34.7%

2011High Fail Rate

45.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 3,595Avg Mileage 121,646Top Failure Suspension — 34.5%

2012High Fail Rate

45.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 3,098Avg Mileage 122,827Top Failure Suspension — 32.8%

2013High Fail Rate

48.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 2,651Avg Mileage 122,585Top Failure Brakes — 88.2%

2014High Fail Rate

48.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 2,380Avg Mileage 123,275Top Failure Brakes — 85.2%

2015High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 2,175Avg Mileage 124,681Top Failure Brakes — 71.8%

2016High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 1,974Avg Mileage 124,375Top Failure Brakes — 60.2%

2017High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 1,771Avg Mileage 125,087Top Failure Brakes — 56.4%

2018High Fail Rate

58.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 1,227Avg Mileage 124,921Top Failure Brakes — 52.5%

2019High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 1,173Avg Mileage 124,641Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 46.4%

2020High Fail Rate

62.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 1,051Avg Mileage 123,708Top Failure Brakes — 53.4%

2021High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 1,352Avg Mileage 123,203Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.3%

2022

67.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 1,144Avg Mileage 122,927Top Failure Brakes — 45.5%

2023

69.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 1,308Avg Mileage 124,864Top Failure Brakes — 40.4%

2024

72.6%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 2,113Avg Mileage 123,593Top Failure Brakes — 32.7%

MOT results for 1989 Volkswagen Golf by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	42.9%	5,089	118,502	Suspension — 34.8%
2010	21	44.2%	4,250	120,350	Suspension — 34.7%
2011	22	45.8%	3,595	121,646	Suspension — 34.5%
2012	23	45.9%	3,098	122,827	Suspension — 32.8%
2013	24	48.2%	2,651	122,585	Brakes — 88.2%
2014	25	48.7%	2,380	123,275	Brakes — 85.2%
2015	26	55.2%	2,175	124,681	Brakes — 71.8%
2016	27	56.6%	1,974	124,375	Brakes — 60.2%
2017	28	57.8%	1,771	125,087	Brakes — 56.4%
2018	29	58.4%	1,227	124,921	Brakes — 52.5%
2019	30	61.6%	1,173	124,641	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 46.4%
2020	31	62.4%	1,051	123,708	Brakes — 53.4%
2021	32	64.9%	1,352	123,203	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.3%
2022	33	67.1%	1,144	122,927	Brakes — 45.5%
2023	34	69.3%	1,308	124,864	Brakes — 40.4%
2024	35	72.6%	2,113	123,593	Brakes — 32.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Volkswagen Golf, with age trends.

Brakes

50.6%

— Consistent

Suspension

48.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

45.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

39.0%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

26.0%

↓ 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
Suspension	34.8% (20 yrs)	27.9% (35 yrs)	-6.9%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	34.1% (20 yrs)	32.7% (35 yrs)	-1.4%	⚪ —

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 36,351 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.