Used car guide

1998 Volkswagen Golf: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volkswagen Golf first registered in 1998: we looked at the 3,758 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,758MOTs of 1998 cars, done in 2023–2025
58%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 65%)
4,200typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1998 Volkswagen Golf?

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.4× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    12.2% All 1998 cars
    5.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, 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.

  • Tread depth1.6× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    18.1% All 1998 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.3% 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× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    11.2% All 1998 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, 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 springs1.7× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    12.1% All 1998 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.1% 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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes9.8× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    3.9% All 1998 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.1% 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 5.6% of all 1998 cars.

Petrol or diesel: does it make a difference?

The same figures for each fuel on its own. Check which one the car you're looking at is: it's on the logbook and in its MOT history.

FuelPass first timeStands outMOTs
Petrol59%Suspension arm bushes and joints 2.4×, Flexible brake hoses 1.9×, Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 2×3,081
Diesel56%Tread depth 1.9×, Coil springs 2×, Flexible brake hoses 2.3×677

Common 1998 Volkswagen Golf MOT failures and advisories

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
    44% 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
    22% 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.

Known faults on the 1998 Volkswagen Golf

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Oil starvation and cam belt failure (1.4 16v)

    1.4 16v petrol

    The 1.4 16v petrol can suffer oil starvation, cam belt failure and bore wear.

    At the viewing: Check the oil level and ask when the cam belt was last changed.

    Source: Parkers: buying guide, Volkswagen Golf Mk4

  • Ignition coils (1.8 turbo)

    1.8T petrol

    The 1.8 turbo is known for ignition coil failures, causing rough running.

    At the viewing: Check it idles smoothly with no flashing engine light.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Golf (1997-2004) used review

  • Chain and sludge problems (V5, V6 and R32)

    V5, V6 and R32 petrol

    The V5 and V6 petrols have chain-driven camshafts that give trouble, along with oil sludge and ignition faults.

    At the viewing: Listen for rattles at start-up and look for sludge under the oil filler cap.

    Source: Parkers: buying guide, Volkswagen Golf Mk4

  • Smoke and oil use (1.9 diesel)

    1.9 diesel

    The 1.9 diesels can smoke and use too much oil.

    At the viewing: Look for smoke on hard acceleration and check the oil level.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Golf (1997-2004) used review

  • Four-speed automatic failures

    Automatic gearbox

    The 01M four-speed automatic is prone to failure if not serviced, and a replacement is costly.

    At the viewing: Check it changes smoothly with no slipping or harsh shifts.

    Source: Parkers: buying guide, Volkswagen Golf Mk4

  • Window regulator failure

    All engines

    The plastic clips in the window regulators break so the window won't move, and the cable can snap.

    At the viewing: Run every window fully up and down.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Golf (1997-2004) used review

  • Suspension clonks and exhaust rattle

    All engines

    Worn anti-roll bar and rear axle bushes cause clonks, and weak exhaust mounts snap off and rattle.

    At the viewing: Listen for clonks over bumps and rattles under acceleration.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Golf (1997-2004) used review

  • Rust, peeling lacquer and leaks

    All engines

    Lacquer can peel, front wings and tailgates rust, and ageing seals and blocked sunroof drains let water in.

    At the viewing: Check the wings and tailgate for rust, and lift the boot carpet for damp.

    Source: Parkers: buying guide, Volkswagen Golf Mk4

  • Brake light switch and cooling fans

    All engines

    The brake light switch is a notorious failure. On some cars the cooling fans stop working with the air con on because of a poor fan resistor.

    At the viewing: Have someone check the brake lights, and make sure the fans run with the air con on.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Golf (1997-2004) used review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1998 Volkswagen Golf

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the cam belt last changed, and is there a receipt?
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 1998 Volkswagen Golf as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the tread depth? (Flagged at MOT 1.6× as often on the 1998 Volkswagen Golf as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the flexible brake hoses? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 1998 Volkswagen Golf as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Golf?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volkswagen Golf compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,017Tyres 14%
202226,616Tyres 27%
202157,768Tyres 27%
2020118,390Tyres 26%
2019158,276Tyres 26%
2018183,093Tyres 28%
2017208,069Tyres 28%
2016194,087Tyres 28%
2015201,242Tyres 29%
2014191,987Tyres 30%
2013164,395Tyres 31%
2012155,439Suspension 39%
2011150,967Suspension 46%
2010134,446Suspension 49%
2009131,689Suspension 47%
2008120,651Suspension 48%
2007120,598Suspension 49%
200688,396Suspension 49%
200560,414Suspension 49%
200438,578Suspension 52%
200349,876Suspension 50%
200242,606Suspension 48%
200124,107Suspension 48%
200013,522Suspension 49%
19998,175Suspension 49%
19972,891Suspension 37%
19962,765Brakes 39%
19951,455Brakes 39%
1994838Brakes 37%
1993783Brakes 30%
19921,687Lights and electrics 28%
19914,953Brakes 26%
19904,834Lights and electrics 28%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Golf cars first registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score