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Volkswagen BEETLE - 2003

434.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen BEETLE, model year 2003. Sample size: 2,653 cars, 6,021 tests and 26,162 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,653 cars

The 2003 Volkswagen Beetle has a defect rate of 435 per 100 vehicles, which is 15% higher than the average for its year, at 378 defects per 100. Notably, as mileage increases, the defect rate also rises, with vehicles over 124,000 miles showing the highest defect rate at 594 per 100. The Beetle particularly struggles in categories like Steering, Lights & Electrics, and Body/Structure, with defects significantly exceeding average rates in these areas. Overall, while it has some common issues related to wear, the greater concern lies in specific performance deficiencies compared to the average vehicle of the same year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,653 cars

More model years for Volkswagen BEETLE

1970 1971 1972 1973 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▼ 13.5% worse
192.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 60.7% worse
40.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▼ 8.7% worse
32.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 23.3% worse
126.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 3.1% worse
311.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 27.0% worse
82.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▼ 47.8% worse
20.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 19.4% worse
62.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 594 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,707
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,584
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,490
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,490
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,468
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,293
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 688
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 643
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 584
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 465

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 451
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 440
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 352
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 292
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 291
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 279
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 228
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 221
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 209
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 204