2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 2,328 MOT tests analysed for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 95.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.7%).

Pass rate

2,328

MOT tests analysed

4.9%

Fail rate

better than

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	3.6%	84
2	Lighting & signalling	1.3%	31
3	Visibility	1.2%	27
4	Suspension	0.4%	10
5	Seat belts & restraints	0.3%	6
6	Body, structure & corrosion	0.2%	4

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	27
2	Headlamp aim	20
3	Wipers	18
4	Washers	14
5	Shock absorbers	11
6	Side repeaters	7

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	23.1%	538
2	Suspension	6.3%	147
3	Other defects	4.8%	111
4	Visibility	2.6%	60
5	Brakes	1.3%	29
6	Road wheels	0.4%	10

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2022 Golf Etsi S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	1,653	3.8%
30-60k	583	7.2%
60-90k	71	7.0%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2022 Golf Etsi S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	111	6.3%
2025	2,215	4.9%

What to check before buying a 2022 Golf Etsi S-A

Before buying a 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.6% of tests for this year.

Tyres (3.6% 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 (1.2% 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 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-As pass their MOT?

95.1% of the 2,328 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Volkswagen Golf Etsi S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).

Does the 2022 Golf Etsi S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.8% in the 0-30k band to 7.0% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,328 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.