2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate and common faults

8,871 MOT tests in 2024. 55.4% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

98About average
Passed first time55.4%
Failed or needed repairs44.6%
Typical mileage at test175,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 8,871 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play5.0%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.4%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.4%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.0%
  6. Position lamp: not working3.9%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.8%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  9. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.0%
  10. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side2.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics33.2%
  2. Suspension28.8%
  3. Brakes27.8%
  4. Body & chassis9.3%
  5. Steering8.1%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.2%
  7. Tyres6.5%
  8. Emissions & leaks4.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded22.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine13.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Volkswagen Transporter?

In 2024, 55.4% of 2004 Volkswagen Transporter cars passed their MOT first time, across 8,871 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Volkswagen Transporter?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Volkswagen Transporter reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).