CarVerify

Free Car Check

R531 JAF

1998 Volkswagen Golf

Silver Diesel 1896cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Apr 2021
Tests23 (14 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate60.9%

Mileage

146,952 mi
Last recorded146,952 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2021
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Golf100,017 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR531 JAF
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,896cc

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

14 pass 9 fail
Fail 8 Apr 2021 146,952 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn metal to metal (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))

Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm both (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel to the extent that safe steering is affected (steering rack fitted) (2.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

n/s rear arch and sill damage

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) both ()

Pass 3 Apr 2020 138,424 miles

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 3 Apr 2020 138,424 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 12 Apr 2019 128,522 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2019 128,473 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Sep 2016 125,367 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2016 125,367 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened axle (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Pass 11 Jun 2015 115,022 miles

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

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

Fail 11 Jun 2015 115,022 miles

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

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

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

Pass 28 May 2014 110,492 miles
Fail 21 May 2014 110,492 miles

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

Pass 29 May 2013 106,693 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2012 103,099 miles

both wiper blades worn

Fail 1 Jun 2012 103,099 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

both wiper blades worn

Pass 27 May 2011 98,910 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2010 94,372 miles
Pass 29 May 2009 88,178 miles
Fail 28 May 2009 88,178 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 29 May 2008 80,409 miles

condition of front registration plate

Pass 29 May 2007 74,034 miles

offside front tyre worn on edge

Pass 23 May 2006 67,146 miles
Pass 20 May 2005 59,866 miles
Fail 20 May 2005 59,866 miles

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

n/s/f tyre tread depth 1.6 [worn on edge]

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R531 JAF is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf in Silver with a 1,896cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.9%.

Across all 1998 Volkswagen Golf models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.1% with a typical mileage of 100,017 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R531 JAF, 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 28 years old, this Volkswagen Golf is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R531 JAF?

You can check the full history of R531 JAF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R531 JAF registered?

R531 JAF is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 16 June 1998.

Is R531 JAF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R531 JAF shows 23 tests with a 60.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R531 JAF 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 R531 JAF. 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.