Volkswagen Golf Mk4
1997 to 2002
Based on 1 source, each with its own reference date
No documented data yet for this generation
Recalls
Our EU Safety Gate feed only goes back to 17 July 2026
We could not check NHTSA for this model
No recall found in EU Safety Gate, checked up to and including 2002
Safety rating
American crash test (NHTSA)
No safety rating found at NHTSA SafetyRatings, checked through 2002
Insurance loss
Compared with the US average. Not a chance of defects
No insurance loss data found at IIHS/HLDI, checked through 2002
Inspection statistics for these model years
- 20 to 24 years: 215,573 inspections
- 25 to 30 years: 46,669 inspections
20 to 24 years: 215,573 inspections
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 106526 of the 215573 Czech inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 85281 of the 215573 Czech inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 63522 of the 215573 Czech inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 59087 of the 215573 Czech inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Steering
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 36627 of the 215573 Czech inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Show more age groups (1)
25 to 30 years: 46,669 inspections
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 18814 of the 46669 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 17886 of the 46669 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 14212 of the 46669 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 10320 of the 46669 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Steering
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 10068 of the 46669 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
- 24 to 26 years: 1,976 inspections
- 27 to 29 years: 2,113 inspections
27 to 29 years: 2,113 inspections
Official item from DVSA MOT-statistiek
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 720 of the 2113 British MOT statistics, age 27-29 yr.
Show more age groups (1)
24 to 26 years: 1,976 inspections
Official item from DVSA MOT-statistiek
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 856 of the 1976 British MOT statistics, age 24-26 yr.
Official item from DVSA MOT-statistiek
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 2988 of the 7276 British MOT statistics, age 24-26 yr.
- 20 to 24 years: 13,136 inspections
- 25 to 30 years: 3,331 inspections
20 to 24 years: 13,136 inspections
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 3232 of the 13136 Dutch inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 3118 of the 13136 Dutch inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 1735 of the 13136 Dutch inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 1693 of the 13136 Dutch inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Steering
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 867 of the 13136 Dutch inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Show more age groups (1)
25 to 30 years: 3,331 inspections
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 759 of the 3331 Dutch inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 710 of the 3331 Dutch inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 437 of the 3331 Dutch inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 367 of the 3331 Dutch inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Visibility
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 202 of the 3331 Dutch inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
- 20 to 24 years: 2,808 inspections
- 25 to 30 years: 801 inspections
20 to 24 years: 2,808 inspections
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 1432 of the 2808 Norwegian inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 1076 of the 2808 Norwegian inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 1002 of the 2808 Norwegian inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 941 of the 2808 Norwegian inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Nuisance
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 536 of the 2808 Norwegian inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Show more age groups (1)
25 to 30 years: 801 inspections
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 417 of the 801 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 318 of the 801 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 280 of the 801 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 208 of the 801 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Nuisance
Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 135 of the 801 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
20 to 24 years: 4,209 inspections
Official inspection point: Lighting and electrical equipment
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 2229 fail items across 4209 Finnish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Chassis and body
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1808 fail items across 4209 Finnish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking systems
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1470 fail items across 4209 Finnish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels and suspension
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1388 fail items across 4209 Finnish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Environmental nuisance
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1087 fail items across 4209 Finnish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
- 20 to 24 years: 4,382 inspections
- 25 to 30 years: 454 inspections
20 to 24 years: 4,382 inspections
Official inspection point: Steering, suspension, wheels and tyres
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 2818 fail items across 4382 Irish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 2116 fail items across 4382 Irish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1898 fail items across 4382 Irish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Nuisance
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1451 fail items across 4382 Irish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Official inspection point: Steering
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 1356 fail items across 4382 Irish inspection data, age 20-24 yr.
Show more age groups (1)
25 to 30 years: 454 inspections
Official inspection point: Steering, suspension, wheels and tyres
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 229 fail items across 454 Irish inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 190 fail items across 454 Irish inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Braking equipment
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 180 fail items across 454 Irish inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Nuisance
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 117 fail items across 454 Irish inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments
Note: these are fail items, not tests. One car can fail on several items in the same test. This figure can therefore be higher than the share of cars that failed. 93 fail items across 454 Irish inspection data, age 25-30 yr.
See the inspection statistics for all generations of Golf
Go to GolfInspections by country and age
This table shows, per age, how many cars of this model fail inspection, by country. An index of 100 is that country's average for that age.
| Age | Netherlands | United Kingdom | Czechia | Ireland | NO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-24 years | 51.2% failed (6730 of 13136) | 43% failed (14497 of 33731) | 11.3% failed (2257 of 20025) | No data | No data |
| 25-30 years | 48.1% failed (1601 of 3331) | 40.2% failed (4564 of 11365) | 12.3% failed (1286 of 10463) | No data | No data |
Czechia only counts serious defects, severity B or C. The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway count every inspection with a real defect.
Finland is not in this table. Finland counts defect points, not cars with a defect.
Buyer knowledge and checklist
Before you buy: the inspection requirement in this country, plus a checklist for the test drive.
Periodic inspection: APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring, the Dutch periodic roadworthiness test): from 2 to 8 years old: every 2 years; diesel: annually from the first test onwards; other fuels: annually from 8 years old
Read the guideFrequently asked questions
Which defects are found most often at inspection for a Volkswagen Golf?
Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension. Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 3232 of the 13136 Dutch inspection data, age 20-24 yr. Dutch inspection data, data up to and including 03/09/2026. More age groups and categories are available in the inspection statistics on this page.
Where does this data come from?
CZ STK (data up to and including 03/07/2026), DVSA MOT-statistiek (data up to and including 2025), NHTSA Manufacturer Communications (data up to and including 2002), GDV Typklassenverzeichnis (data up to and including 2024), Dutch inspection data (data up to and including 03/09/2026), Norwegian inspection data (data up to and including 31/12/2025), Finnish inspection data (data up to and including 31/12/2025), Irish inspection data (data up to and including 31/12/2025). Every fact here has its own source and reference date.