2004 Volkswagen Phaeton — MOT failures & pass rate
272 MOT tests on the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Phaeton comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.4%) and emissions & environmental (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, service brake performance and pins and bushes — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 25 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 34.8% versus 24.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.4% | 31 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 29 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 24 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.3% | 20 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 12 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.3% | 77 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.8% | 73 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 33 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 32 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 31 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 49 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 66 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 177 | 24.9% |
| Diesel | 95 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 60 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 62 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 37 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 43 | 32.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Phaeton
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 11.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (11.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (10.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Phaetons pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 272 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Brakes, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (10.7%).
Does the 2004 Phaeton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 60-90k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.