2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 3,072 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 91.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.3% in the 90-120k group versus 7.1% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

3,072

MOT tests analysed

8.9%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.5

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 — 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	6.6%	204
2	Lighting & signalling	1.8%	56
3	Visibility	1.6%	48
4	Suspension	1.1%	33
5	Seat belts & restraints	0.4%	13
6	Brakes	0.4%	12

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 — 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	53
2	Headlamp aim	50
3	Shock absorbers	31
4	Wipers	29
5	Washers	26
6	Front fog lamps	11

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	26.1%	803
2	Brakes	6.6%	203
3	Other defects	5.0%	154
4	Visibility	2.8%	87
5	Suspension	2.0%	61
6	Road wheels	1.9%	58

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 — 2021 Golf Gte S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	986	7.1%
30-60k	1,550	8.9%
60-90k	467	12.4%
90-120k	63	14.3%

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 — 2021 Golf Gte S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	48	6.3%
2024	1,551	9.4%
2025	1,471	8.6%

What to check before buying a 2021 Golf Gte S-A

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.6% of tests for this year.

Tyres (6.6% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (1.6% 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 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-As pass their MOT?

91.0% of the 3,072 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Golf Gte S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).

Does the 2021 Golf Gte S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 3,072 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.