2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Volkswagen Golf MOT pass rate and common faults

15,582 MOT tests in 2024. 56.9% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

99About average
Passed first time56.9%
Failed or needed repairs43.1%
Typical mileage at test132,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 15,582 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.4%
  2. Position lamp: not working4.3%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.9%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.6%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.3%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    763 marked dangerous
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.8%
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.8%
  9. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.7%
  10. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics27.5%
  2. Brakes23.2%
  3. Suspension17.9%
  4. Body & chassis14.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks13.0%
  6. Steering8.8%
  7. Tyres6.9%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.8%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.2%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine15.2%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened13.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Volkswagen Golf?

In 2024, 56.9% of 2003 Volkswagen Golf cars passed their MOT first time, across 15,582 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Volkswagen Golf?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Volkswagen Golf reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 99, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).