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Volkswagen BEETLE - 2004

414.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen BEETLE, model year 2004. Sample size: 3,589 cars, 8,308 tests and 34,391 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 3,589 cars

The 2004 Volkswagen Beetle has an overall defect rate of 414 per 100 vehicles, which is 8.3% higher than the average for cars of the same year. It shows a notable increase in defect rates as mileage rises, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category where it reaches 571 defects per 100 vehicles. The Beetle notably performs worse than average in the areas of steering, body/structure, and equipment, with steering defects being 51.4% more frequent than the average. Despite these concerns, tyre wear is not highlighted as a predominant issue for this model.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 3,589 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
▼ 19.1% worse
195.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 51.8% worse
37.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 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
▼ 6.5% worse
31.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 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
▼ 10.6% worse
121.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 10.2% better
281.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▼ 28.1% worse
81.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 39.9% worse
19.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • 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
  • 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
▼ 18.8% worse
60.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 571 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,148
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,104
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,952
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,858
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,756
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,675
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,059
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 887
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 763
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 742

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 525
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 524
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 510
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 451
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 403
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 370
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 328
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 305
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 294
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 275