Volkswagen Golf V or Ford Focus II: which has fewer APK problems?

At 16+ years (mostly built 2010 or older) 17.2% of inspected Volkswagen Golf Vs had at least one A-problem, against 12.8% for the Ford Focus II and 15.3% nationally. The Ford Focus II does clearly better at this age: the confidence intervals do not overlap. Over all ages together the Volkswagen Golf V has an A-problem 12% more often than average, the Ford Focus II 18% less often.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

At this age the Focus has fewer A-problems.

Also check the weak spots and the history of the specific car.

ModelModel years

Volkswagen Golf V

2005 – 2008

Illustration Volkswagen Golf V

Ford Focus II

2005 – 2012

Illustration Ford Focus II
AA-problemsDefects at the APK

17.2%

n = 9,042 · 95% CI 16.4 – 18.0%

12.8%

n = 28,291 · 95% CI 12.4 – 13.2%

All defectsAll kinds of APK defects

52.3%

n = 9,042 · 95% CI 51.3 – 53.3%

53.6%

n = 28,291 · 95% CI 53.0 – 54.2%

Three points to checkMost common defects at the APK
  1. 1Brakes
  2. 2Springs and shock absorbers
  3. 3Structural rust
  1. 1Springs and shock absorbers
  2. 2Brakes
  3. 3Control arms / ball joints
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A-problems side by side

Percentages with 95% confidence intervals.

02468101214161820 A-problems (%) National: 15.3% · n = 1,990,063 · 95% CI 15.2 – 15.3% Volkswagen Golf V2005 – 2008 17.2% (n = 9,042 · 95% CI 16.4 – 18.0%) Ford Focus II2005 – 2012 12.8% (n = 28,291 · 95% CI 12.4 – 13.2%)

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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