2019 Volkswagen E-Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,172 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Volkswagen E-Golf, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (89.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.3% in the 90-120k group versus 8.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.4% | 1,363 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.7% | 281 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 271 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 194 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 58 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 36 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 328 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 323 |
| 3 | Wipers | 177 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 147 |
| 5 | Washers | 137 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 42 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.0% | 4,524 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 2,271 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 954 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 515 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 346 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 107 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 8,090 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 6,867 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,070 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 128 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 4,024 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 4,023 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 3,948 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 4,090 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 E-Golf
Before buying a 2019 Volkswagen E-Golf, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 8.4% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (8.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (1.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2019 Volkswagen E-Golfs pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 16,172 2019 Volkswagen E-Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen E-Golf?
Tyres, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by suspension (1.7%).
Does the 2019 E-Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,172 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.