2004 Volkswagen Lupo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,293 MOT tests, the 2004 Volkswagen Lupo recorded a 74.5% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (29.5% fail rate), the 2004 Lupo comes out 4.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.8%) and emissions & environmental (9.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and exhaust system — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 546 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.4% in the 0-30k band and 32.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (27.6% vs 25.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 937 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 725 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 694 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 570 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.4% | 537 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 435 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 546 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 520 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 332 |
| 4 | Wipers | 300 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 294 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 273 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.5% | 2,517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.5% | 2,368 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 1,910 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 1,339 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 1,034 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 803 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 359 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,757 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,361 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,731 | 29.9% |
| 120-150k | 728 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 349 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,410 | 25.2% |
| Diesel | 883 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,739 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 1,639 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 1,461 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 1,313 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 1,141 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Lupo
On a 2004 Lupo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (9.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Volkswagen Lupos pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 7,293 2004 Volkswagen Lupo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Lupo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.9%).
Does the 2004 Lupo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,293 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.