2004 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
27,992 MOT tests on the 2004 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 73.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.0% of all tests — 6.7 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,674 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 27.7% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.8% of the time against 26.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.2% in 2021 to 24.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 5,032 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 3,143 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 2,828 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.0% | 2,525 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 1,518 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,379 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,674 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,381 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,013 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,279 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,256 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,199 |
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 | 36.1% | 10,102 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 8,370 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.5% | 7,982 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 5,870 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.9% | 5,015 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 4,427 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 527 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,783 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,924 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 6,328 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 15,392 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 25,028 | 26.6% |
| Petrol | 2,964 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,758 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 6,814 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 5,307 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 4,093 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 3,020 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Passat
On a 2004 Passat, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 Passats pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 27,992 2004 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Passat?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.2%).
Does the 2004 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,992 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.