2020 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,540 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 94.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.9% in the 90-120k group versus 4.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 447 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 136 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.9% | 91 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.8% | 86 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 59 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 39 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 151 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 99 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 87 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 52 |
| 5 | Wipers | 49 |
| 6 | Washers | 49 |
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 | 24.0% | 2,532 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 587 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 428 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 218 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 186 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 54 |
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 | 6,320 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,774 | 7.2% |
| 60-90k | 389 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 10,370 | 6.0% |
| Petrol | 170 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,436 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 3,510 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 3,575 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Golf Etsi S-A
Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.9% 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 2020 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-As pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 10,540 2020 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2020 Golf Etsi S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,540 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.