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R220 MSG

1998 Volkswagen Beetle

Red Petrol 1600cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Aug 2026
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

98,027 mi
Last recorded98,027 miles
Recorded on27 Aug 2025
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Beetle68,525 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR220 MSG
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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

9 pass 6 fail
Pass 27 Aug 2025 98,027 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel inner ball joint at pinion (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Aug 2024 94,789 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule all 4 (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Pass 29 Aug 2023 91,581 miles

drivers seat does not fold

Fail 28 Aug 2023 91,581 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

drivers seat does not fold

Pass 16 Apr 2021 91,543 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2019 91,272 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule At caliper (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Fail 4 Jul 2019 91,271 miles

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule At caliper (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy Both (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Steering box slight movement (2.1.1 (d) (i))

Pass 16 Dec 2015 89,463 miles
Fail 19 Nov 2015 89,643 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 7 Oct 2011 71,489 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2011 71,484 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Fail 9 Sep 2010 65,978 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 9 Sep 2010 65,978 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 9 Sep 2009 48,428 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2009 48,428 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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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R220 MSG is a 1998 Volkswagen Beetle in Red with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

Across all 1998 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.6% with a typical mileage of 68,525 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 R220 MSG, 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 28 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R220 MSG?

You can check the full history of R220 MSG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R220 MSG registered?

R220 MSG is a 1998 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R220 MSG safe to buy?

The MOT history for R220 MSG shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R220 MSG 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 R220 MSG. 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.