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Volkswagen e-Golf reliability

C · Average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 29,222 MOT tests of cars first registered 2018–2020.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
86.3%pass first time
+0.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 54%of cars
29,222MOT tests

Verdict

The Volkswagen e-Golf passes its MOT first time on 86.3% of tests, about the same as a typical car of the same age and mileage (86.0%). That puts it ahead of 54% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 e-Golf does best (beats 55% of cars) and the 2020 worst (beats 53%).

The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.

Better than average on visibility, lights & electrics, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Tyres1.8×as often as a typical car
Suspension1.5×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking2.3×as often as a typical car
Shock absorbers6.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

80%85%90%95%3456787%87%86%86%84%
Volkswagen e-GolfTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2018
Beats 54%
2019
Beats 55%
2020
Beats 53%

Engines

All years, most common first. 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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2018–202029,22286.3%Beats 54%C

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: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Suspension: 2.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% 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: 1.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.2% 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: 9.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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: 0.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% 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: 1.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.2% 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+1.8 ptsTyres: 9.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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−4.1 ptsBrakes: 0.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% 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+2.0 ptsSuspension: 2.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% 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−0.7 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/aSuspension: 2.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% 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: 0.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% 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: 9.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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: 1.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.2% 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: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Lights: 1.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.2% 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+1.8 ptsTyres: 9.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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−4.1 ptsBrakes: 0.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% 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+2.0 ptsSuspension: 2.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 1.3% 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−0.7 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/a
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 9.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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.

Every MOT area

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

Tyres
9.1% vs 5.0%
Visibility
2.1% vs 3.0%
Suspension
2.0% vs 1.3%
Lights & electrics
1.4% vs 3.2%
Brakes
0.4% vs 2.4%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.3%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.2%
Body & structure
0.1% vs 0.4%
Steering
0.1% vs 0.3%
Emissions & leaks
0.0% vs 0.8%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking 2.3× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Shock absorbers 6.5× typical
    Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

75%80%85%90%95%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k94%90%88%85%86%83%82%
Volkswagen e-GolfTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking7.5%3.3%2.3×
Tyre tread depth1.8%1.5%1.2×
Shock absorbers1.7%0.3%6.5×
Windscreen washers1.1%1.1%1.0×
Windscreen wipers0.9%1.9%0.4×
Headlight aim0.8%1.5%0.5×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)0.3%0.4%0.9×
Number plates0.2%0.2%0.9×
Coil springs0.2%0.4%0.4×
Wheel nuts & fixings0.1%0.1%1.4×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A tyre seriously damaged40.1
A tyre cords visible or damaged36.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.9
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage16.6
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen10.8
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.8
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative3.3
Check another car

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

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its 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.

2020 Volkswagen e-Golf1 engine87.0% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric9,96487.0%Beats 53%C
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf1 engine86.0% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric17,46386.0%Beats 55%C
2018 Volkswagen e-Golf1 engine84.8% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric1,79584.8%Beats 54%C

FAQ

What is the Volkswagen e-Golf MOT pass rate?

86.3% of MOT tests on the Volkswagen e-Golf were passed first time, based on 29,222 tests between 2021 and 2026 of cars first registered 2018–2020. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 86.0% of the time.

Is the Volkswagen e-Golf reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 54% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volkswagen e-Golf year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 e-Golf does best for its age and mileage: it beats 55% of cars on UK roads. The 2020 does worst: it beats 53%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen e-Golf?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, shock absorbers. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 2.3× as often.

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.