Volkswagen Phaeton (2004)
2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
CarHunch analysed 202 real MOT records for the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →
The 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton matches the UK average pass rate at 80.1%, but the headline concern is that 43.6% of vehicles in this cohort have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—nearly double the typical figure—making this a significant buyer red flag regardless of recent MOT history. With an average of 2.89 failures per test and 13.2 advisories, these cars demand more attention than average, suggesting ageing components and wear accumulating faster than the norm.
At 84,558 miles average, these Phaetons have been driven hard for their age, yet this mileage sits only slightly above expectations for a 20-year-old saloon, so you're not necessarily looking at neglected examples. The weight of advisories relative to failures tells you these are cars with multiple small issues rather than single catastrophic problems—budget for incremental repairs rather than hoping for a clean bill of health. Before purchase, get a pre-buy inspection that specifically targets the suspension, electrical systems, and transmission, as the advisory pattern suggests these are wear-prone areas on this platform.
We have limited data for the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.
These stats describe 202 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 202 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 202 Volkswagen Phaeton cars.
Before you buy a 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
Based on MOT data from 202 vehicles — here's what to check.
-
📋
Check the full MOT history.
43.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
🔍
Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
→
-
📄
Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
Get 20% off via CarHunch
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (64%) | 129 | 79.7% | 2.94 |
| Diesel (33%) | 67 | 81.1% | 2.78 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 2,187 Volkswagen Phaeton vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton vehicles fall between 62,034 and 104,114 miles.
2004 Volkswagen Phaeton — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2004 Volkswagen Phaetons are still active.
Numbers are declining — 32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
Or browse all models: Volkswagen →
Compare with another model
See how the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton stacks up against a rival.