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FA51 COW

2002 Volkswagen Beetle

Blue Petrol 1781cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Dec 2026
Tests31 (21 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate67.7%

Mileage

104,504 mi
Last recorded104,504 miles
Recorded on27 Dec 2025
Typical for 2002 Volkswagen Beetle77,198 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationFA51 COW
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2002
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,781cc

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 27 Dec 2025 104,504 miles

Central Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement b/s (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Body panel slightly loose (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Dec 2024 95,833 miles
Fail 23 Dec 2024 95,828 miles

Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt and outer (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Inner Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) rack joint (2.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Inner Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) rack joint (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 6 Aug 2024 92,762 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Front Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Headlamp lens slightly defective both front milky (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Aug 2023 89,290 miles

Coil spring corroded All 4. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear bush. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Fail 29 Aug 2023 89,290 miles

Coil spring corroded All 4. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible Both. (4.1.4 (c))

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear bush. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Pass 5 Sep 2022 85,322 miles

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Aug 2021 83,603 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 11 Aug 2021 83,588 miles

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle on full lock (5.2.3 (f))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle on full lock (5.2.3 (f))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 4 Sep 2020 81,689 miles

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

Pass 4 Sep 2019 79,315 miles

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

Nearside Front Outer Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords side wall cut (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 17 Aug 2018 77,652 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 16 Aug 2018 77,651 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 31 Aug 2017 75,786 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Hi visibility brake light not working

Fail 30 Aug 2017 75,786 miles

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Hi visibility brake light not working

Pass 23 Aug 2016 73,355 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Inner Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 18 Aug 2015 65,245 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 28 Aug 2014 59,291 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2013 53,988 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 18 Aug 2012 48,336 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 6 Sep 2011 44,153 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2010 39,659 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

Pass 26 Aug 2010 39,659 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2009 34,758 miles

REAR BRAKES OUT OF BALANCE BUT CAR ROAD TESTED BY NT AND OK.ADJUSTMENT ADVISED.

Pass 27 Aug 2008 32,411 miles

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 29 Aug 2007 29,452 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2007 29,452 miles

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Fail 30 Aug 2006 24,791 miles

Front Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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 30 Aug 2006 24,791 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 25 Aug 2005 20,645 miles
Fail 25 Aug 2005 20,642 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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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FA51 COW is a 2002 Volkswagen Beetle in Blue with a 1,781cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.7%.

Across all 2002 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.1% with a typical mileage of 77,198 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 FA51 COW, 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 24 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 FA51 COW?

You can check the full history of FA51 COW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FA51 COW registered?

FA51 COW is a 2002 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 September 2002.

Is FA51 COW safe to buy?

The MOT history for FA51 COW 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 FA51 COW 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 FA51 COW. 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.