Known APK problem
Volkswagen Golf VI: drive shafts
On the Volkswagen Golf VI the APK inspector finds drive shafts problems 50% more often than on cars of the same age: at 16+ years 5.3%, against about 3.5% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
Torn boots or worn CV joints on the drive shafts.
How to check it at the viewing
Look behind the front wheels at the rubber boots: no tears or grease around them. Drive a tight turn: no clicking noise.
Ask the seller: Have the drive shaft boots or CV joints been replaced?
By age
Share of inspected Volkswagen Golf VIs with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.
| Age | Type | Golf VI | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 – 12 years | B | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.7× |
| 13 – 15 years | B | 3.3% | 1.9% | 1.7× |
| 16+ years | B | 5.3% | 3.5% | 1.5× |
A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.
Comparable cars at 16+ years
| Model | Drive shafts | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf VI | 5.3% | 1.5× |
| MINI Mini R56/R55 | 0.5% | 0.1× |
| Kia Venga | 3.0% | 0.9× |
Looking at a Volkswagen Golf VI? Check that car
Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Volkswagen Golf VIs of the same age.
All weak spots of the Volkswagen Golf VI · Drive shafts: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the Volkswagen Golf VI often have drive shafts problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 16+ years the inspector found a drive shafts defect on 5.3% of inspected Volkswagen Golf VIs, against about 3.5% of all cars of the same age (1.5×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the drive shafts on a used Volkswagen Golf VI?
Look behind the front wheels at the rubber boots: no tears or grease around them. Drive a tight turn: no clicking noise.
Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.
Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know