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D981 GWS

1987 Volkswagen Golf

Green Petrol 1781cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Apr 2027
Tests26 (20 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

120,972 mi
Last recorded120,972 miles
Recorded on9 Apr 2026
Typical for 1987 Volkswagen Golf117,027 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationD981 GWS
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1987
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,781cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

20 pass 6 fail
Pass 9 Apr 2026 120,972 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2025 120,807 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 9 Apr 2024 120,498 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Apr 2023 120,431 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Apr 2022 120,334 miles

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Sep 2020 120,100 miles
Fail 19 Sep 2020 120,069 miles

Offside Rear Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 17 Sep 2019 119,998 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2018 119,066 miles

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 18 Oct 2018 119,064 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Brake cable insecure (1.1.15 (c))

Offside Rear Fuel pipe leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 26 Oct 2017 117,679 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 19 Oct 2017 117,678 miles

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded x2 (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded x2 hoses (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded x2 hoses (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c) DANGEROUS

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 16 Dec 2016 114,585 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded under bonnet (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 5 Nov 2015 113,138 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded some pipes are at the upper limit of acceptable corrosion (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component steering rack union (centre) (2.3.3b)

fuel pipes corroded

nearside and offside rear tyres cracking/perishing

offside front outer sill holed and corroded but outside prescribed areas

offside side repeater is partially insecure

Pass 24 Mar 2014 108,112 miles

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 19 Mar 2013 105,142 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

Pass 27 Mar 2012 100,728 miles
Fail 23 Mar 2012 100,726 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Pass 4 Feb 2011 94,193 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 26 Jan 2010 87,561 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

brake pedal has slight travel

n/s outer sill has surface rust

o/s/f wishbone rear bush split

Pass 26 Jan 2010 87,561 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

brake pedal has slight travel

n/s outer sill has surface rust

o/s/f wishbone rear bush split

Pass 19 Jan 2009 87,422 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2007 83,054 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2007 83,054 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Pass 4 Aug 2006 78,243 miles

front brake hoses perished

front cv boots perished

front top suspension mountings worn close to excess

Pass 5 Aug 2005 72,794 miles

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Golf?

Based on 22,270,993 MOT tests across 1,787,037 vehicles.

74.9%
Pass Rate
6,735
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,787,037
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 700,382
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 301,629
Stop lamp not working 260,234
position lamp(s) not working 257,206
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 229,092
Full Volkswagen Golf reliability report

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D981 GWS is a 1987 Volkswagen Golf in Green with a 1,781cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1987 Volkswagen Golf models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.6% with a typical mileage of 117,027 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Golf fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 700,382 recorded failures. If you're considering buying D981 GWS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Golf typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 39 years old, this Volkswagen Golf is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of D981 GWS?

You can check the full history of D981 GWS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D981 GWS registered?

D981 GWS is a 1987 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 30 March 1987.

Is D981 GWS safe to buy?

The MOT history for D981 GWS shows 26 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D981 GWS have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on D981 GWS. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.