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Volkswagen Golf S TSI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Golf S TSI car check

Is the Volkswagen Golf S TSI reliable? We analysed 2,358 real MOT tests across 465 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,358 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.6%
Typical Mileage
59,974mi
Annual Mileage
6,135mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volkswagen Golf S TSI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Golf S TSI.

Volkswagen Golf S TSI Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Golf S TSI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volkswagen Golf S TSI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen Golf S TSI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.9%
2019

Volkswagen Golf S TSI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Golf S TSI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 19
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 6

Volkswagen Golf S TSI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Golf S TSI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,833 mi/yr
Typical
6,135 mi/yr
Average
6,938 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,114 mi/yr

Volkswagen Golf S TSI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Golf S TSI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 633 86.9% 25,030 35,458 49,516

How Long Does a Volkswagen Golf S TSI Last?

Based on 465 Volkswagen Golf S TSI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
5.3 years
Median
5.0 years

Volkswagen Golf S TSI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Golf S TSI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
59,974 mi
75th Percentile
87,860 mi
95th Percentile
126,943 mi
Max Recorded
585,467 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Golf S TSI

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

86.9% MOT pass rate from 633 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Golf S TSI is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.9% across 633 tests.

How Does the Volkswagen Golf S TSI Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Golf S TSI THIS CAR 87.6% 2,358 59,974 mi — yrs
Volkswagen Golf 74.9% 22,270,993 83,305 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Polo 72.9% 14,598,296 60,351 mi 35 yrs
Volkswagen Passat 73.5% 6,960,690 105,632 mi 32 yrs
Vauxhall Vivaro 2700 DTI SWB 64.4% 915 164,764 mi — yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Golf S TSI outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Volkswagen Golf S TSI you like?

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Golf S TSI?

The Volkswagen Golf S TSI has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.6% across 2,358 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volkswagen Golf S TSI with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Volkswagen Golf S TSI owner drives around 6,135 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Volkswagen Golf S TSI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Golf S TSI reliable?
Based on 2,358 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Golf S TSI has a 87.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Golf S TSI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Golf S TSI do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Golf S TSI does around 6,135 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Golf S TSI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Golf S TSI?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Volkswagen Golf S TSI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Golf S TSI is 2019 with a 86.9% pass rate across 633 tests.