CarVerify

Free Car Check

S161 VAY

1998 Volkswagen Golf

Red Diesel 1900cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Feb 2016
Tests18 (10 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate55.6%

Mileage

180,059 mi
Last recorded180,059 miles
Recorded on2 Feb 2015
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 £12.99

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

RegistrationS161 VAY
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,900cc

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

10 pass 8 fail
Pass 2 Feb 2015 180,059 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 Jan 2015 179,096 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Offside Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter insecure to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) DANGEROUS

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 9 Apr 2014 164,780 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Fail 8 Apr 2014 164,780 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) DANGEROUS

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 30 Apr 2013 156,489 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Fail 30 Apr 2013 156,489 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Pass 1 May 2012 149,226 miles

Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

hid lights fitted

Fail 23 Apr 2012 149,100 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed component (2.3.3b)

Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

hid lights fitted

Pass 30 Apr 2011 140,677 miles

Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

front drive shafts diffrent sizes

Fail 29 Apr 2011 140,677 miles

Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

Offside Rear brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

front drive shafts diffrent sizes

Pass 1 May 2010 132,000 miles

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

Front Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Front Macpherson strut has slight movement in the upper support bearing assembly (2.5.B.1b)

Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Oil leak

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

Fail 28 Apr 2009 123,294 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 28 Apr 2009 123,294 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2008 112,247 miles
Fail 29 May 2008 112,157 miles

Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Offside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 15 Mar 2007 106,812 miles
Fail 13 Mar 2007 106,812 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside rear brake grabbing severely (3.7.A.5b)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 4 Feb 2006 95,175 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

S161 VAY is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf in Red with a 1,900cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.6%.

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 S161 VAY, 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 S161 VAY?

You can check the full history of S161 VAY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S161 VAY registered?

S161 VAY is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 17 August 1998.

Is S161 VAY safe to buy?

The MOT history for S161 VAY shows 18 tests with a 55.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S161 VAY 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 S161 VAY. 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.