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Volkswagen GOLF - 2004

418.9 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 GOLF, model year 2004. Sample size: 12,767 cars, 28,077 tests and 117,619 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 12,767 cars

The 2004 Volkswagen Golf has an overall defect rate of 419 per 100 vehicles, which is 9.6% higher than the average for its year, recorded at 382 per 100. Notably, the Golf shows a significant increase in defects as mileage increases, particularly beyond 124,000 miles. While it performs better than average in some categories, it faces challenges in body and structure defects, which are 26% higher than the average, and equipment-related issues, which are 55% higher. Additionally, the model exhibits a strong presence of defects in the "Other" category, with a 24% higher rate compared to average. Overall, these factors suggest that while the Golf has certain strengths, it is also prone to specific issues that may affect its reliability as it ages.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 12,767 cars

More model years for Volkswagen GOLF

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 2.8% better
159.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 14.9% better
21.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
Visibility
▲ 2.7% better
28.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 2.5% worse
112.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 13.3% worse
354.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▼ 22.0% worse
77.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 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
  • 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
Equipment
▼ 47.1% worse
20.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • ESC 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
  • 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
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 25.9% worse
63.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 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
0 546 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: 10,067
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 9,410
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,318
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,297
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,685
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,343
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,013
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 2,888
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,883
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,613

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,790
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,431
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,272
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,219
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,217
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,081
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,054
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 945
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 877
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 832