Used car guide

2004 Volkswagen Golf: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Volkswagen Golfs, from 9,672 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,672MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,800typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Volkswagen Golfs than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    18.8% All 2004 cars
    9.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.2× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    14.8% All 2004 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    13% All 2004 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Engine warning light2.8× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    8.8% All 2004 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.8%, against 3.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Side repeaters2.4× usual
    Volkswagen Golf
    4.8% All 2004 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 8.3% here, against 17.1% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    38% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Volkswagen Golf?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023955Tyres 14%
202223,873Tyres 27%
202127,979Tyres 28%
202039,589Tyres 28%
201952,885Tyres 27%
201861,339Tyres 28%
201769,559Tyres 27%
201664,629Tyres 28%
201567,035Suspension 29%
201463,805Suspension 31%
201354,339Suspension 35%
201250,845Suspension 44%
201148,378Suspension 50%
201042,078Suspension 53%
200940,541Suspension 52%
200835,280Suspension 52%
200734,305Suspension 53%
200624,267Suspension 52%
200515,641Suspension 51%
200313,796Suspension 51%
200211,757Suspension 49%
20016,490Suspension 49%
20003,601Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Volkswagen Golfs registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score