Known APK problem
Volkswagen Golf VI: wheels and wheel bearings
On the Volkswagen Golf VI the APK inspector finds wheels and wheel bearings problems 60% more often than on cars of the same age: at 13–15 years 2.2%, against about 1.4% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
Play or noise in the wheel bearings, or damaged wheels.
How to check it at the viewing
On the test drive, listen for a humming noise that rises with speed.
Ask the seller: Have any wheel bearings 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 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.8× |
| 13 – 15 years | A | 0.2% | 0.1% | 1.5× |
| 13 – 15 years | B | 2.2% | 1.4% | 1.6× |
| 16+ years | A | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.9× |
| 16+ years | B | 2.6% | 2.4% | 1.1× |
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 13–15 years
| Model | Wheels and wheel bearings | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf VI | 2.2% | 1.6× |
| BMW 1-serie F20 | 0.4% | 0.3× |
| Toyota Auris I Hybrid | 0.3% | 0.2× |
| SEAT Leon III | 0.5% | 0.4× |
| MINI Mini R56/R55 | 0.7% | 0.5× |
| Kia Venga | 0.7% | 0.5× |
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 · Wheels and wheel bearings: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the Volkswagen Golf VI often have wheels and wheel bearings problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 13–15 years the inspector found a wheels and wheel bearings defect on 2.2% of inspected Volkswagen Golf VIs, against about 1.4% of all cars of the same age (1.6×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the wheels and wheel bearings on a used Volkswagen Golf VI?
On the test drive, listen for a humming noise that rises with speed.
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