Used car guide

1998 Volkswagen Golf: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Volkswagen Golfs, from 1,023 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,023MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
4,100typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for tread depth

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Volkswagen Golfs than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Tread depth1.8× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    18.7% All 1998 cars
    10.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.1% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.1× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    11.8% All 1998 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Coil springs1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    13.2% All 1998 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.9% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    10.9% All 1998 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 0.9% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes10× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    4% All 1998 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Better than most

Chassis rust or damage: 2.2% here, against 5.8% of all 1998 cars.

By area

The share of 1998 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    41% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    29% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Volkswagen Golf?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023956Tyres 14%
202225,721Tyres 27%
202128,581Tyres 28%
202039,589Tyres 28%
201952,885Tyres 27%
201861,339Tyres 28%
201769,559Tyres 27%
201664,629Tyres 28%
201567,035Tyres 29%
201463,805Suspension 31%
201354,339Suspension 35%
201250,845Suspension 44%
201148,378Suspension 50%
201042,078Suspension 53%
200940,541Suspension 52%
200835,280Suspension 52%
200734,305Suspension 53%
200624,267Suspension 52%
200515,641Suspension 51%
20049,672Suspension 54%
200313,796Suspension 51%
200211,757Suspension 49%
20016,490Suspension 49%
20003,601Suspension 49%
19992,181Suspension 50%
1997861Suspension 37%
1996833Brakes 39%
1995420Suspension 39%
1994235Brakes 33%
1993261Brakes 30%
1992562Lights and electrics 28%
19911,604Brakes 25%
19901,536Brakes 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Volkswagen Golfs registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score