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

Across 2,048 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf R-Line S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 91.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%).

Pass rate

2,048

MOT tests analysed

9.0%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.4

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 R-Line S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	6.5%	134
2	Visibility	1.7%	34
3	Brakes	0.8%	17
4	Emissions & environmental	0.6%	12
5	Suspension	0.5%	10
6	Lighting & signalling	0.5%	10

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 R-Line S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	42
2	Washers	21
3	Brake pads	17
4	Wipers	16
5	Shock absorbers	11
6	Malfunction indicator lamp	10

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen Golf R-Line S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	24.1%	494
2	Brakes	9.6%	196
3	Suspension	5.9%	121
4	Other defects	5.2%	106
5	Visibility	2.9%	60
6	Road wheels	1.3%	26

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 R-Line S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	730	7.1%
30-60k	1,078	10.0%
60-90k	212	10.4%

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 R-Line S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	62	8.1%
2024	1,013	9.3%
2025	973	8.8%

What to check before buying a 2021 Golf R-Line S-A

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Golf R-Line S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.5% of tests for this year.

Tyres (6.5% 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 (1.7% 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.
Brakes (0.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.

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 R-Line S-As pass their MOT?

91.0% of the 2,048 2021 Volkswagen Golf R-Line S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.

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

Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by visibility (1.7%).

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

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,048 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.