2004 Volkswagen Touran — MOT failures & pass rate
17,679 MOT tests on the 2004 Volkswagen Touran are in this dataset, and 70.3% of them passed. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (30.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.1%) and lighting & signalling (14.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, joints and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,046 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Touran fails 26.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.7% of the time against 29.8% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 46.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 2,841 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 2,630 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 1,931 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.4% | 1,486 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 1,473 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 1,307 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,046 |
| 2 | Joints | 984 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 949 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 892 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 878 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 873 |
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 | 46.2% | 8,173 |
| 2 | Tyres | 34.4% | 6,089 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.9% | 5,106 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 3,181 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.0% | 2,998 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 2,743 |
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 | 79 | 26.6% |
| 30-60k | 158 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,042 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,206 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 5,272 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 7,820 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,653 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 3,026 | 29.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,619 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 4,478 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 3,379 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 2,460 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 1,743 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Touran
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 Tourans pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 17,679 2004 Volkswagen Touran MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Touran?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.9%).
Does the 2004 Touran get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,679 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.