2004 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Volkswagen Touareg passed 76.0% of its 4,958 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 11.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 336 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.8% versus 19.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.7% of the time against 24.1% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 719 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 561 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 503 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.5% | 273 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 235 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 222 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 336 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 316 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 220 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 217 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 208 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 202 |
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 | 33.0% | 1,638 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 1,383 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.9% | 1,235 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.4% | 1,110 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 789 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 526 |
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 | 81 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 417 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,169 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,610 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,630 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,940 | 24.1% |
| Petrol | 1,013 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,442 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 1,216 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 967 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 740 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 593 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Touareg
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Brakes (10.2% 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.
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 Touaregs pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 4,958 2004 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2004 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.8% in the 30-60k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,958 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.