2003 Volkswagen Golf 1.4L Petrol · FC03 LGL

This 2003 Volkswagen Golf has just failed its MOT on 1 June 2026 with serious structural corrosion, an emissions failure, and suspension wear. The fail is only two weeks old, and the defects make the car unsafe for the road in its current state. The most alarming finding is excessive corrosion on both nearside and offside rear outer sills, described as “significantly reducing structural strength” in a prescribed area that mounts the suspension. This is not surface rust – it is a major structural failure that directly affects the car’s ability to handle loads safely. A 2024 MOT fail highlighted similar severe rust on the nearside rear structure within 30cm of a body mounting, and that appeared to be temporarily repaired or passed over. Two years later, the corrosion has clearly spread and worsened to involve both sides in the suspension mounting zones. Any repair will require professional welding and a thorough inspection of the surrounding metal. The emissions fail (CO content after second fast idle exceeds limits) and a recorded minor exhaust leak at the secondary catalytic converter suggest the exhaust system and perhaps the catalytic converter itself are deteriorating. A minor leak has been an advisory since 2025, but it has now contributed to a fail. The front anti-roll bar link bush on the offside has gone from an advisory for movement to a definite fail for excessive wear, showing ongoing suspension deterioration.