Used car guide

2004 Volkswagen Passat: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Volkswagen Passats, from 2,404 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,404MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
7,600typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

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

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.2× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    21.5% All 2004 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.2%, 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    18.2% All 2004 cars
    9.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes5.3× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    10% All 2004 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Airbag warning light2.9× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    4.7% All 2004 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.4% 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.

  • Windscreen1.8× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    7.3% All 2004 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 5.7% here, against 17.1% of all 2004 cars. Suspension arm: 1% here, against 4.1% of all 2004 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    49% 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
    41% 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
    34% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    22% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% 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.

Looking at a Volkswagen Passat?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,480Tyres 28%
20213,675Tyres 28%
20205,842Tyres 27%
20197,334Tyres 29%
201810,770Tyres 30%
201713,909Tyres 30%
201614,973Tyres 31%
201515,235Tyres 32%
201414,561Suspension 43%
201311,677Suspension 46%
201213,143Suspension 50%
201115,088Suspension 53%
20109,953Suspension 56%
20099,559Suspension 56%
20087,455Suspension 57%
20076,006Suspension 59%
20063,912Suspension 61%
20052,928Suspension 51%
20032,104Suspension 51%
20021,324Suspension 50%
2001774Suspension 53%

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