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XRH 52S

1978 Volkswagen Beetle

Grey Petrol 1600cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Apr 2027
Tests10 (7 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

35,882 mi
Last recorded35,882 miles
Recorded on20 Apr 2026
Typical for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle45,494 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationXRH 52S
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1978
ColourGrey
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

7 pass 3 fail
Pass 20 Apr 2026 35,882 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2020 15,485 miles

Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play offside and nearside (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal all underside (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 5 Jun 2015 15,485 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

slight play in steering arm

Pass 5 Jun 2015 15,485 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

slight play in steering arm

Pass 31 May 2013 15,485 miles

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

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 16 Apr 2012 15,496 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both shocker top bushes cracking

Fail 13 Apr 2012 15,485 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

both shocker top bushes cracking

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 28 Jun 2010 15,485 miles

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

Nearside Front Axle beam has slight vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam (2.5.A.1a)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Axle beam has slight vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam (2.5.A.1a)

Pass 29 Jun 2009 15,485 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2009 15,485 miles

Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

both front tyres inner edges low on tread

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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XRH 52S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle in Grey with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 1978 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.7% with a typical mileage of 45,494 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 XRH 52S, 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 48 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of XRH 52S?

You can check the full history of XRH 52S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was XRH 52S registered?

XRH 52S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 23 February 1978.

Is XRH 52S safe to buy?

The MOT history for XRH 52S shows 10 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does XRH 52S 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 XRH 52S. 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.