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R971 XWJ

1998 Volkswagen Golf

Red Petrol 1391cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Aug 2027
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

57,230 mi
Last recorded57,230 miles
Recorded on10 Aug 2026
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Golf100,017 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR971 XWJ
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,391cc

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 7 fail
Pass 10 Aug 2026 57,230 miles

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sills both sides [various locations] (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 10 Aug 2026 57,320 miles

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sills both sides [various locations] (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 15 Aug 2025 53,322 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

Fail 15 Aug 2025 53,322 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

Pass 19 Aug 2024 49,233 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2.9mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2.9mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 18 Aug 2023 43,620 miles

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 17 Aug 2023 43,598 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 5 Aug 2022 38,358 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2021 35,614 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2021 35,486 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

o/s inner wing cover insecure

Fail 14 Aug 2020 35,462 miles

Nearside Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting inner sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all pipes covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play both (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Feb 2018 34,961 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2017 34,188 miles
Pass 22 Feb 2016 33,547 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2015 32,847 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2014 31,864 miles
Pass 22 Feb 2013 30,656 miles

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

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

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

Pass 21 Mar 2012 29,559 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Mar 2011 28,417 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2010 27,528 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2009 26,196 miles

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 19 Mar 2009 26,196 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2008 24,913 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2008 24,913 miles

Nearside Rear Bonded suspension unit deteriorated and cannot function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Offside Rear Bonded suspension unit deteriorated and cannot function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Pass 20 Mar 2007 23,178 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2007 23,178 miles

Front Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

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

Pass 16 Mar 2006 21,698 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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R971 XWJ is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf in Red with a 1,391cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 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 R971 XWJ, 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 R971 XWJ?

You can check the full history of R971 XWJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R971 XWJ registered?

R971 XWJ is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 13 March 1998.

Is R971 XWJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R971 XWJ shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R971 XWJ 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 R971 XWJ. 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.