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BT53 OAE

2004 Volkswagen Beetle

Blue Diesel 1896cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Jun 2026
Tests33 (20 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate60.6%

Mileage

128,409 mi
Last recorded128,409 miles
Recorded on10 Jun 2026
Typical for 2004 Volkswagen Beetle71,947 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationBT53 OAE
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2004
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,896cc

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

20 pass 13 fail
Fail 10 Jun 2026 128,409 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rears (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 11 Jun 2025 127,839 miles

Nearside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 11 Jun 2025 127,839 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 10 Jun 2024 122,835 miles

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Jun 2024 122,835 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the light source so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 12 Jun 2023 120,270 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre not repairable due to poor condition of tyre

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

Fail 6 Jun 2023 120,720 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre not repairable due to poor condition of tyre

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

Pass 11 Aug 2022 120,187 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both rear. (1.1.11 (c))

Handbrake travel slightly long.

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

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

Nearside headlamp beam image slightly poor.

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Shock absorbers has light misting of oil Both rear (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 26 Jul 2022 120,165 miles

Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Both side outer sills (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear and both rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

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

Nearside headlamp beam image slightly poor

Parking brake travel slightly high

Shock absorbers has light misting of oil Both rear very slight (5.3.2 (b))

oil leaks

Pass 21 Jul 2021 118,989 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both main at rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Exhaust back box corroded.

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside plus Offside outer sills corroded.

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 21 Jul 2021 118,981 miles

Exhaust system insecure Centre clamp corroded/broken. (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both main at rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Central Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust back box corroded.

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside plus Offside outer sills corroded.

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Jul 2020 118,612 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

o/s/f tyre is cracking.

Fail 30 Jul 2020 118,612 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

o/s/f tyre is cracking.

Pass 28 Jun 2019 116,105 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2019 116,105 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 12 May 2018 112,402 miles
Fail 10 May 2018 112,402 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 5 May 2017 109,092 miles
Fail 5 May 2017 109,092 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Rear Braking system leaking brake caliper @handbrake lever mechanism (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 22 Apr 2016 105,564 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2015 102,139 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2015 102,139 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 17 Apr 2014 97,393 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2014 97,393 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 24 Apr 2013 93,238 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2012 88,361 miles

front tyres worn on inner edge

o/s/f rack end has slightly play

rear brakes slightly binding

Fail 23 Apr 2012 88,361 miles

Nearside Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

front tyres worn on inner edge

o/s/f rack end has slightly play

rear brakes slightly binding

Pass 18 Apr 2011 82,374 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2010 66,615 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

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

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

Pass 21 Apr 2009 50,446 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2008 49,986 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 7 Jan 2008 45,726 miles

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

Pass 5 Jan 2007 37,072 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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BT53 OAE is a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle in Blue with a 1,896cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.6%.

Across all 2004 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.8% with a typical mileage of 71,947 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 BT53 OAE, 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 22 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 BT53 OAE?

You can check the full history of BT53 OAE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BT53 OAE registered?

BT53 OAE is a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 6 January 2004.

Is BT53 OAE safe to buy?

The MOT history for BT53 OAE shows 33 tests with a 60.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BT53 OAE 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 BT53 OAE. 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.