2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate and common faults

3,098 MOT tests in 2024. 58.5% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time58.5%
Failed or needed repairs41.5%
Typical mileage at test158,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,098 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.2%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.2%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.0%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  5. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.4%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.3%
  7. Position lamp: not working3.1%
  8. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  9. Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.7%
  10. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle2.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics29.4%
  2. Brakes18.8%
  3. Suspension18.5%
  4. Body & chassis17.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.4%
  6. Tyres6.7%
  7. Seat belts & airbags4.9%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.4%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn15.8%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Volkswagen Passat?

In 2024, 58.5% of 2004 Volkswagen Passat cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,098 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Volkswagen Passat reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).