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2015 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 Diesel

A · Excellent

MOT pass rate and common problems from 180,810 MOT tests of 24,032 cars, 2018–2026. Engine size and fuel as recorded at MOT.

Volkswagen Golf
81.9%pass first time
+5.8 ptsvs typical car
Beats 85%of cars
180,810MOT tests

Verdict

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel passes its MOT first time on 81.9% of tests, against 76.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 85% of cars on UK roads.

Its first MOT is its weakest: at 3 years old it passes about 3 points less often than a typical car. From 4 years on it pulls ahead, by about 5 points at 6, 8 at 8 and about 10 at 10–11. Across all years of the 1.6 diesel, it is slightly behind a typical car under 20,000 miles and about 7 points ahead from 60,000 to 90,000 miles.

2013–2016 are the best years of this engine, each beating more than eight in ten cars, with 2014 slightly ahead (the few 2020 cars do as well). 2009–2012 and 2017 cars beat about seven in ten, and 2018–2019 cars a little under two in three. Every other 2015 Golf engine does a little better: the 1.4 petrol, 2.0 diesel and 2.0 petrol beat more than nine in ten cars. The Golf as a whole beats about seven in ten.

Lights, steering, bodywork, suspension and brakes all fail less often than on a typical car. The weak spots are shock absorbers (2.1 times the typical rate), the engine warning light and wipers (each 1.4 times).

Watch these weak spots

Windscreen wipers1.4×as often as a typical car
Shock absorbers2.1×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT.

65%70%75%80%85%90%Age 32018Age 42019Age 52020Age 62021Age 72022Age 82023Age 92024Age 102025Age 11202681%85%85%83%83%81%80%79%79%
2015 Golf 1.6 DieselTypical car, same age & mileage

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 3.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 3.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 3.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.2 ptsTyres: 5.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+1.2 ptsBrakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.8 ptsSuspension: 3.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+1.9 ptsExhaust: 1.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.2 ptsSuspension: 3.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 3.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 3.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.2 ptsTyres: 5.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+1.2 ptsBrakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.8 ptsSuspension: 3.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+1.9 ptsExhaust: 1.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.2 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Exhaust: 1.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
5.6% vs 6.8%
Visibility
4.5% vs 4.1%
Lights & electrics
3.7% vs 7.8%
Suspension
3.5% vs 5.4%
Brakes
3.1% vs 4.9%
Emissions & leaks
1.7% vs 1.9%
Body & structure
0.3% vs 1.6%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.5%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.3%
Steering
0.1% vs 1.1%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Shock absorbers
    Fail on about 1 in 60 tests, 2.1 times as often as on a typical car, and testers advise on them on about 1 in 5 tests, more than 6 times the typical rate. Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers and check past MOT advisories.
  • Engine warning light
    Fails on about 1 in 65 tests, 1.4 times the typical rate. It should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts; if it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.
  • Wipers
    The joint most common fail, on about 1 in 30 tests (1.4 times the typical rate). Check the blades clear the screen without smearing.
  • Tyres
    Tyre damage fails on about 1 in 30 tests and tread depth about 1 in 50, both below typical, but tread depth is an advisory on about 1 in 6 tests. Check every tyre for cuts and bulges, and for at least 3 mm of tread including the inner edge.
  • Brake pads and discs
    Pads fail on about 1 in 60 tests, less often than typical, but disc advisories come up on about 1 in 9 tests, 1.2 times the typical rate. Look through the wheel spokes for scored discs or a heavy rust lip.
  • Headlight aim and coil springs
    Headlight aim fails on about 1 in 60 tests and coil springs about 1 in 70, both less often than on a typical car. Check both dipped beams sit level and look behind each wheel for a snapped coil.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k91%87%84%79%74%69%66%63%
Golf 1.6 Diesel (all years)Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking3.1%3.3%0.9×
Windscreen wipers3.1%2.1%1.4×
Tyre tread depth2.0%2.7%0.8×
Brake pads1.7%2.3%0.7×
Shock absorbers1.6%0.8%2.1×
Headlight aim1.6%2.3%0.7×
Engine warning light1.6%1.1%1.4×
Coil springs1.4%1.8%0.8×
Windscreen washers1.1%1.7%0.6×
Headlight bulbs & units0.9%1.4%0.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen24.0
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements19.9
A tyre seriously damaged18.2
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements16.1
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage15.9
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction15.7
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened14.3
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm13.8
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Advisories

Not a fail yet, but likely to need attention soon.

ItemShare of testsvs typical
Shock absorbers19.6%6.4×
Tyre tread depth16.5%0.9×
Brake discs11.6%1.2×
Tyre damage & cracking9.8%1.3×
Brake pads7.8%0.9×
Engine oil leaks1.5%0.8×
Suspension arm bushes1.5%0.4×
Brake performance1.4%1.0×

Best and worst years

Golf 1.6 Diesel by year, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2008
Beats 59%
2009
Beats 74%
2010
Beats 67%
2011
Beats 69%
2012
Beats 71%
2013
Beats 86%
2014
Beats 88%
2015
Beats 85%
2016
Beats 85%
2017
Beats 72%
2018
Beats 65%
2019
Beats 63%
2020
Beats 86%

Other 2015 Golf engines

Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel180,81081.9%Beats 85%A
1.4 Petrol178,45586.3%Beats 94%A
2.0 Diesel150,29283.2%Beats 92%A
2.0 Petrol73,60987.0%Beats 97%A
1.4 Hybrid10,87885.1%Beats 95%A
1.2 Petrol10,84484.5%Beats 91%A
1.0 Petrol1,51284.8%Beats 87%A

FAQ

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2015 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel?

81.9% of MOT tests on the 2015 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel were passed first time, from 180,810 tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 76.1%.

Is the 2015 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel reliable?

On MOT results it is well above average: it beats 85% of cars on UK roads, and its lead over a typical car grows as it gets older. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

What are the most common MOT failures on the 2015 Golf 1.6 diesel?

Tyre damage and wipers (each about 1 in 30 tests), tyre tread depth, brake pads and shock absorbers. Shock absorbers fail 2.1 times as often as on a typical car.

Which year of Golf 1.6 diesel is best?

2013–2016: each beats more than eight in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, 2014 most of all. 2009–2012 cars beat about seven in ten.

Which 2015 Golf engine is best?

The 1.6 diesel is the weakest of the 2015 Golf engines, though still well above average. The 1.4 petrol, 2.0 diesel and 2.0 petrol each beat more than nine in ten cars.

Does the Golf 1.6 diesel do well at its first MOT?

Not as well as later: at 3 years old it passes about 3 points less often than a typical car, but it is ahead at every MOT after that.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.