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AF53 VJJ

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1984cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Aug 2026
Tests31 (21 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate67.7%

Mileage

156,467 mi
Last recorded156,467 miles
Recorded on13 Aug 2025
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAF53 VJJ
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,984cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

21 pass 10 fail
Pass 13 Aug 2025 156,467 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 205/55r16 (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

emission limits only just met suspect CAT issue

fuel cap seal cracking

Fail 12 Aug 2025 156,467 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 205/55r16 (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

emission limits only just met suspect CAT issue

fuel cap seal cracking

Pass 15 Aug 2024 151,521 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

fuel cap seal cracking

Pass 15 Aug 2023 146,587 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) on play detectors ()

Nearside Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin appears to be getting low (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear corrosion to inner part of side skirting

fuel cap seal slightly deteriorated

Fail 1 Aug 2023 146,512 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt also play in joint (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) on play detectors ()

Nearside Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin appears to be getting low (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear corrosion to inner part of side skirting

fuel cap seal slightly deteriorated

Pass 5 Aug 2022 142,762 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2022 142,723 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Fail 25 Jul 2022 142,649 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

o/s mirror indicator damaged

Pass 27 Jul 2021 138,031 miles
Fail 23 Jul 2021 138,009 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Pass 25 Sep 2020 134,199 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Fail 24 Sep 2020 134,183 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut attachment bracket/mounting insecure and impairing directional stability top mount (5.3.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 8 Apr 2019 124,404 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2019 124,380 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut mounting damaged and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Sill Hole within 30cm of mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Macpherson strut mounting damaged and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 4 Apr 2018 115,650 miles

Central exhaust mount has come away from exhaust system but exhaust I still secure

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front mirror casing slightly insecure but not affecting view to rear

Nearside Front side repeater lens damaged but not resulting in sharp edges

Nearside Front tyre perishing

Nearside Rear tyre out of shape inner edge

Nearside Rear tyre perishing

Offside Front Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front side repeater lens damaged but not resulting in sharp edges

Offside Rear tyre out of shape inner edge

Offside Rear tyre perishing

Rear registration plate faded but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

eml illuminated

Fail 3 Apr 2018 115,650 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement rear bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement rear bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Central exhaust mount has come away from exhaust system but exhaust I still secure

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front mirror casing slightly insecure but not affecting view to rear

Nearside Front side repeater lens damaged but not resulting in sharp edges

Nearside Front tyre perishing

Nearside Rear tyre out of shape inner edge

Nearside Rear tyre perishing

Offside Front Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front side repeater lens damaged but not resulting in sharp edges

Offside Rear tyre out of shape inner edge

Offside Rear tyre perishing

Rear registration plate faded but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

eml illuminated

Pass 4 Apr 2017 110,163 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 20 Mar 2017 110,084 miles

Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault (3.4.1c)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 16 Mar 2016 101,358 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2015 93,718 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 19 Mar 2014 88,178 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2013 82,193 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2012 76,604 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2011 71,167 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 8 Mar 2010 64,167 miles
Fail 20 Mar 2009 58,898 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

air bag light stayes on

Pass 20 Mar 2009 58,898 miles

air bag light stayes on

Pass 5 Jan 2009 58,852 miles
Pass 12 Dec 2007 52,196 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2006 46,030 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2006 42,037 miles

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on 1,719,137 MOT tests across 112,454 vehicles.

71.7%
Pass Rate
4,798
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
112,454
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 44,561
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33,096
Stop lamp not working 28,079
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27,964
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23,197
Full Volkswagen Beetle reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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AF53 VJJ is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,984cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.7%.

Across all 2003 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.9% with a typical mileage of 73,703 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying AF53 VJJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Beetle typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 23 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of AF53 VJJ?

You can check the full history of AF53 VJJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AF53 VJJ registered?

AF53 VJJ is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is AF53 VJJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for AF53 VJJ shows 31 tests with a 67.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AF53 VJJ have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on AF53 VJJ. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.