Does the Volkswagen Golf fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?
The Volkswagen Golf records 8.31 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 8.42 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.11, 95% interval −0.13 to −0.08). It ranks 316 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a Volkswagen Golf by registration
What exactly fails on visibility?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen Golf is “Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view”, recorded 169,566 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 169,566 | 3.18 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 95,263 | 1.79 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 56,627 | 1.06 |
| Wiper blade defective | 47,411 | 0.89 |
| Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose | 26,367 | 0.49 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,326,892 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Volkswagen Golf gets a visibility advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.1% of Volkswagen Golf MOTs with a visibility advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,605 miles later (5,653 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,653 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Volkswagen Golf 1998 · Volkswagen Golf 1999 · Volkswagen Golf 2000 · Volkswagen Golf 2001 · Volkswagen Golf 2002 · Volkswagen Golf 2003 · Volkswagen Golf 2004 · Volkswagen Golf 2005 · Volkswagen Golf 2006 · Volkswagen Golf 2007 · Volkswagen Golf 2008 · Volkswagen Golf 2009 · Volkswagen Golf 2010 · Volkswagen Golf 2011 · Volkswagen Golf 2012 · Volkswagen Golf 2013 · Volkswagen Golf 2014 · Volkswagen Golf 2015 · Volkswagen Golf 2016 · Volkswagen Golf 2017 · Volkswagen Golf 2018 · Volkswagen Golf 2019 · Volkswagen Golf 2020 · Volkswagen Golf in Finland · Volkswagen Golf in the Netherlands · Volkswagen Golf in Norway · Volkswagen Golf by postcode area · Volkswagen Golf body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen Golf brakes failures · Volkswagen Golf vehicle identification failures · Volkswagen Golf lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volkswagen Golf noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volkswagen Golf road wheels failures · Volkswagen Golf seat belts and airbags failures · Volkswagen Golf steering failures · Volkswagen Golf suspension failures · Volkswagen Golf tyres failures