1998 Volkswagen Golf — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

61.1%

Latest Pass Rate

211,418

Total Tests (All Years)

120,794 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 1998 Volkswagen Golf as it ages.

11 yrs47.5%

→ ↓0.9%

12 yrs46.6%

→ ↓1.7%

13 yrs44.9%

→ ↓0.5%

14 yrs44.4%

→ ↓0.1%

15 yrs44.3%

→ ↑0.3%

16 yrs44.6%

→ ↑1.7%

17 yrs46.3%

→ ↑1.1%

18 yrs47.4%

→ ↑1.1%

19 yrs48.5%

→ ↑2.5%

20 yrs51.0%

→ ↑1.4%

21 yrs52.4%

→ ↑1.4%

22 yrs53.8%

→ ↑0.3%

23 yrs54.1%

→ ↑2.2%

24 yrs56.3%

→ ↑1.0%

25 yrs57.3%

→ ↑3.8%

26 yrs61.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	47.5%	34,952
12 yrs	46.6%	31,961
13 yrs	44.9%	29,783
14 yrs	44.4%	25,957
15 yrs	44.3%	21,769
16 yrs	44.6%	17,725
17 yrs	46.3%	14,127
18 yrs	47.4%	10,654
19 yrs	48.5%	7,736
20 yrs	51.0%	3,863
21 yrs	52.4%	3,130
22 yrs	53.8%	2,263
23 yrs	54.1%	2,266
24 yrs	56.3%	1,454
25 yrs	57.3%	1,505
26 yrs	61.1%	2,273

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Volkswagen Golf pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	61.1%	2,273
2023 (25 yrs)	57.3%	1,505
2022 (24 yrs)	56.3%	1,454
2021 (23 yrs)	54.1%	2,266
2020 (22 yrs)	53.8%	2,263
2019 (21 yrs)	52.4%	3,130
2018 (20 yrs)	51%	3,863
2017 (19 yrs)	48.5%	7,736
2016 (18 yrs)	47.4%	10,654
2015 (17 yrs)	46.3%	14,127
2014 (16 yrs)	44.6%	17,725
2013 (15 yrs)	44.3%	21,769
2012 (14 yrs)	44.4%	25,957
2011 (13 yrs)	44.9%	29,783
2010 (12 yrs)	46.6%	31,961
2009 (11 yrs)	47.5%	34,952

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.5%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 34,952Avg Mileage 99,137Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%

2010High Fail Rate

46.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 31,961Avg Mileage 105,110Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8%

2011High Fail Rate

44.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 29,783Avg Mileage 110,181Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%

2012High Fail Rate

44.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 25,957Avg Mileage 114,323Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%

2013High Fail Rate

44.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 21,769Avg Mileage 117,687Top Failure Suspension — 71.9%

2014High Fail Rate

44.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 17,725Avg Mileage 120,508Top Failure Suspension — 75.7%

2015High Fail Rate

46.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 14,127Avg Mileage 122,766Top Failure Suspension — 70.3%

2016High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 10,654Avg Mileage 123,589Top Failure Suspension — 71.8%

2017High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 7,736Avg Mileage 123,276Top Failure Brakes — 68.6%

2018High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 3,863Avg Mileage 120,544Top Failure Brakes — 63.2%

2019High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 3,130Avg Mileage 119,335Top Failure Brakes — 74.1%

2020High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 2,263Avg Mileage 117,433Top Failure Brakes — 63.1%

2021High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 2,266Avg Mileage 115,839Top Failure Brakes — 64.7%

2022High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,454Avg Mileage 115,300Top Failure Brakes — 69.3%

2023High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 1,505Avg Mileage 115,328Top Failure Brakes — 68.8%

2024High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 2,273Avg Mileage 120,794Top Failure Brakes — 54.6%

MOT results for 1998 Volkswagen Golf by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	47.5%	34,952	99,137	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%
2010	12	46.6%	31,961	105,110	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8%
2011	13	44.9%	29,783	110,181	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%
2012	14	44.4%	25,957	114,323	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%
2013	15	44.3%	21,769	117,687	Suspension — 71.9%
2014	16	44.6%	17,725	120,508	Suspension — 75.7%
2015	17	46.3%	14,127	122,766	Suspension — 70.3%
2016	18	47.4%	10,654	123,589	Suspension — 71.8%
2017	19	48.5%	7,736	123,276	Brakes — 68.6%
2018	20	51.0%	3,863	120,544	Brakes — 63.2%
2019	21	52.4%	3,130	119,335	Brakes — 74.1%
2020	22	53.8%	2,263	117,433	Brakes — 63.1%
2021	23	54.1%	2,266	115,839	Brakes — 64.7%
2022	24	56.3%	1,454	115,300	Brakes — 69.3%
2023	25	57.3%	1,505	115,328	Brakes — 68.8%
2024	26	61.1%	2,273	120,794	Brakes — 54.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Volkswagen Golf, with age trends.

Brakes

56.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

55.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

44.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

32.1%

— Consistent

Tyres

28.2%

↑ 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	24.5% (11 yrs)	54.6% (26 yrs)	+30.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	27.6% (11 yrs)	53.8% (26 yrs)	+26.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	17.5% (11 yrs)	23.7% (26 yrs)	+6.2%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 211,418 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.