2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 828 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).

Pass rate

828

MOT tests analysed

8.6%

Fail rate

in line with

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 — 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	7.0%	58
2	Visibility	1.2%	10
3	Lighting & signalling	1.2%	10
4	Brakes	0.9%	7
5	Suspension	0.6%	5
6	Emissions & environmental	0.1%	1

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 — 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	14
2	Headlamp aim	10
3	Washers	7
4	Shock absorbers	5
5	Wipers	2
6	Service brake imbalance	2

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	21.3%	176
2	Brakes	5.6%	46
3	Other defects	4.0%	33
4	Suspension	2.4%	20
5	Visibility	1.9%	16
6	Road wheels	1.1%	9

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 — 2020 Golf Gte S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	365	7.1%
30-60k	371	10.0%
60-90k	72	8.3%

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 — 2020 Golf Gte S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	262	6.1%
2024	288	10.1%
2025	277	9.4%

What to check before buying a 2020 Golf Gte S-A

Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.0% of tests for this year.

Tyres (7.0% 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.
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.
Lighting & signalling (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Gte S-As pass their MOT?

91.4% of the 828 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by visibility (1.2%).

Does the 2020 Golf Gte S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.3% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 828 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.