Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Volkswagen Touran?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Volkswagen Touran?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Volkswagen Touran?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Volkswagen Touran vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Volkswagen Touran reliable?

Based on MOT data from 11,148 vehicles, the 2004 Volkswagen Touran has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen Touran?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Volkswagen Touran are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (91.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (90.2% of vehicles), Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt (66.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Volkswagen Touran?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Volkswagen Touran (2004)

11,148 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72% first-time pass rate

2004 Volkswagen Touran

CarHunch analysed 11,148 real MOT records for the 2004 Volkswagen Touran. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Volkswagen Touran has a first-time pass rate of 72%, which is 8 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, signalling below-average reliability for its age. More concerning, 45.1% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and should give any prospective buyer pause.

At just under 102,000 miles median mileage, these Tourans are well-used family cars, yet they're racking up an average of 5.35 failures and 26.6 advisories per test—a high advisory count that points to widespread wear issues across multiple systems. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission, suspension components, and diesel particulate filter condition, as these are the areas where Tourans of this age commonly fail.

The 2004 Volkswagen Touran has a below-average first-time pass rate (72% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

72%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

45.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.35

Over 18.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

102k

Middle half: 84k–120k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 26.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 11,148 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 11,148 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 91.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 66.9%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Suspension & steering 45.4%

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 42.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

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 11,148 Volkswagen Touran cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Volkswagen Touran

Based on MOT data from 11,148 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.1% 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
Diesel (82%)	9,154	71.9%	5.39
Petrol (18%)	1,991	72.2%	5.14

Colour Breakdown

Based on 117,359 Volkswagen Touran vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 23.1%

27,129

Blue 22.7%

26,651

Grey 22.3%

26,135

Black 21.7%

25,498

White 3.9%

4,550

Red 3.6%

4,283

Green 1.1%

1,273

Beige 0.8%

899

Brown 0.6%

732

Purple 0.1%

150

Maroon 0%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Volkswagen Touran 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.

101,633

typical

84,474

low mileage

120,188

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Volkswagen Touran vehicles fall between 84,474 and 120,188 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 84,474 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 84,474–120,188 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Volkswagen Tourans sit.

⚠ Over 162,253 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Volkswagen Touran — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 13% of 2004 Volkswagen Tourans are still active.

Numbers are declining — 1,271 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (13% 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

18.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.35

Avg failures per vehicle

26.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volkswagen Touran: All Touran years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Volkswagen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Volkswagen Touran stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on