CarVerify

Free Car Check

OU53 MLK

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Yellow Petrol 1984cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Sep 2026
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

65,960 mi
Last recorded65,960 miles
Recorded on24 Sep 2025
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationOU53 MLK
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2003
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,984cc
View full Volkswagen Beetle reliability data

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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 24 Sep 2025 65,960 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush mount (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear inner and outer sills (7.1.1 (a) (i)

Fail 12 Aug 2025 65,903 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush mount (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear inner and outer sills (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Aug 2024 64,207 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear sills (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Aug 2024 64,207 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear sills (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Sep 2023 61,843 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rears (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Sep 2023 61,843 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear sills (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Aug 2023 61,587 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear sills (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Sep 2022 56,674 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Fail 5 Sep 2022 56,674 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Pass 14 Sep 2021 52,604 miles

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

Fail 13 Sep 2021 52,604 miles

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

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

Pass 8 May 2019 50,049 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement only when the vehicle is raised (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement only when the vehicle is raised (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 22 Mar 2019 49,321 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 4mm and feathering on outer edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 4mm and feathering on inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 22 Mar 2018 42,716 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2017 40,952 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2016 38,536 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2014 35,267 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2013 33,822 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2013 33,820 miles

Offside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

rear tyres have radial cracks

Pass 3 Oct 2012 31,093 miles

Front number plate cracked

Fail 3 Oct 2012 31,093 miles

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)

Front number plate cracked

Pass 21 Oct 2011 29,959 miles

Front brake discs corroded and showing wear

Fail 12 Oct 2011 29,922 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Front brake discs corroded and showing wear

Pass 26 Oct 2010 28,189 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2009 25,291 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 24 Oct 2008 21,747 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2007 18,368 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2006 13,411 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

OU53 MLK is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Yellow with a 1,984cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

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 OU53 MLK, 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 OU53 MLK?

You can check the full history of OU53 MLK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was OU53 MLK registered?

OU53 MLK is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 27 October 2003.

Is OU53 MLK safe to buy?

The MOT history for OU53 MLK shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does OU53 MLK 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 OU53 MLK. 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.