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Volkswagen PASSAT - 2004

370.6 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 PASSAT, model year 2004. Sample size: 3,236 cars, 6,764 tests and 25,068 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 3,236 cars

The 2004 Volkswagen Passat has an overall defect rate of 371 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the yearly average of 382 per 100 vehicles, showing a 3% improvement. While tyre wear is a common issue across many vehicles, this model particularly excels in steering, with a defect rate of just 13%, compared to the average of 25%. Mileage-related trends indicate that defects are highest in the lowest mileage category, significantly dropping in the 31,000–62,000 miles range before gradually increasing again. Overall, the Passat demonstrates strengths in specific areas while maintaining a relatively low defect rate compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 3,236 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
▲ 14.9% better
139.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 47.4% better
13.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 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
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 8.2% better
26.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 2.7% worse
112.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • 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
▼ 0.1% worse
313.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 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 shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
Body/Structure
▼ 9.0% worse
69.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 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
▲ 21.7% better
10.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 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
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 9.3% worse
55.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 760 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: 3,148
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,284
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,515
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,396
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 939
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 896
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 778
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 659
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 638
Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 637

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 778
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 534
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 289
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 179
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 168
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 155
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 151
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 143
A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
FAIL
Occurrences: 136
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 129