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MOT History from tests of petrol VOLKSWAGEN GOLFs year 1997

Review the list of common VOLKSWAGEN GOLF failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your VOLKSWAGEN then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history
Pass percent:51.50%
(The average a petrol VOLKSWAGEN GOLF year 1997 passes without issue)
Based on:189,948 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded22183
Headlamp aim out of alignment18646
Registration plate lamp issues17347
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively11753
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits |7.3.D.3|7001
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive |7.3.D.3|6066
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault5227
Registration plate issues5126
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment |2.5.A.1c|4122
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment |2.5.A.1c|4100
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|3663
Nearside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|3506
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|3451
Nearside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|3350
Offside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|3174
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|2970
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|2926
Brake hose excessively deteriorated2914
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive |7.3.D.4|2727
Offside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|2715
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|2512
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|2484
Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|2476
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort2450
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|2308
Brakes imbalanced across an axle2197
Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure |3.6.B.3|1919
Emissions not tested |7.0|1807
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate |3.4.1b|1773
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive |7.3.D.3|1644
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|1467
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|1403
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|1395
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1375
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|1366
Windscreen has damage1340
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|1332
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|1285
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|1274
Offside Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|1246
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|1245
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|1228
Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|1210
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened1184
Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure |3.6.B.3|1128
Rear brake binding1076
Offside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|1061
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1034
Nearside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|1003
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|954
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|949
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|927
Offside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|909
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|900
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|844
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|843
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|830
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|824
Offside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|796
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|778
Offside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|761
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|751
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|734
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|728
Service brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|728
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|694
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|687
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened669
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel |3.1.6b|654
Rear brake application uneven643
Battery insecure |1.9.1|626
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|618
Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|614
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|596
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` |8.3.1e|590
Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|570
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|559
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|558
Horn not working |1.6.2a|546
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|545
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|541
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|538
Offside Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure |3.6.B.3|531
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|522
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|518
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|513
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|510
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|507
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|499
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|490
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|489
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|475
Nearside Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure |3.6.B.3|469
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|469
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|468
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|467
Brake load sensing valve linkage seized |3.6.E.3|460
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement |7.2.4b|456
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|453
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|452
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|447
Windscreen wiper blade insecure442
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement in the upper support bearing assembly |2.5.B.1b|442
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|439
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working |1.4.A.2c|435
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement in the upper support bearing assembly |2.5.B.1b|434
Steering column top mounting bracket insecure |2.1.2d|433
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|433
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view |8.1.2a|431
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|426
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|425
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|421
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|414
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|403
Offside Front Direction indicator not working |1.4.A.2c|398
Front brake application uneven398
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault |5.4.2|391
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|389
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|387
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect |1.8.A.1b|378
Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|372
Fuel system component leaking |7.2.3|369
Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|367
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|364
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|362
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|357
Offside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|357
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|356
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|356
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|356
Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|354
Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment |2.5.A.1c|338
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|338
Nearside Front Wheel bolt|s| missing |4.2.A.1e|329
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|329
Centre Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|327
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect |1.8.A.1b|325
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|321
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|311
Brake pedal spongy |3.3.B.1b|308
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|308
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|307
Offside Front coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|305
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|304
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|301
Offside Headlamp insecure |1.7.3|300
Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|297
Nearside Headlamp insecure |1.7.3|294
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|293
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working |1.3.1b|291
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|289
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|284

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

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