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Volkswagen PASSAT - 2003

385.9 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 PASSAT, model year 2003. Sample size: 2,724 cars, 5,697 tests and 21,985 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,724 cars

The 2003 Volkswagen Passat has a slightly higher overall defect rate compared to the average vehicle of the same year, with 386 defects per 100 cars against the average of 378. Notably, the Passat stands out positively in the steering and equipment categories, showing significantly fewer defects than the average. In terms of mileage trends, the defect rate increases as mileage increases, particularly in the higher mileage brackets. Overall, while there are some common issues like tyre wear, the Passat demonstrates strengths that may appeal to potential buyers looking for reliability in specific areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,724 cars

More model years for Volkswagen PASSAT

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

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 3.2% better
163.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 42.1% better
14.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • 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
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 5.0% better
28.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 8.2% worse
111.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 4.7% worse
316.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▼ 2.8% worse
67.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • 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: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
Equipment
▲ 33.1% better
9.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 16.7% worse
61.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour to an extent likely to obscure the vision of other road users
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 538 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: 2,493
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,920
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,484
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,367
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 812
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 701
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 672
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 634
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 602
Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 471

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 672
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 411
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 243
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 147
A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
FAIL
Occurrences: 139
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 127
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 124
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 116