1998 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L Petrol · R413 BND
1998 Volkswagen Passat (1.8L, petrol). First registered 01 Jan 1998. Recorded mileage 74,768 miles. MOT valid until 22 Feb 2027. Taxed until 01 Jul 2027.
- Make & Model
- VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 22 Feb 2027
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Jul 2027)
- Recorded Mileage
- 74,768 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- PETROL · 1.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
R413 BND Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 20/02/2026
- 74,768 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 2 historical MOT failures
- 1 defect noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (8 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R413 BND MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
5 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 Volkswagen Passat (R413 BND) between February 2024 and February 2026.
The record contains 3 passes and 2 failures.
The most recent test on 20 February 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (8 issues), Lighting (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 12 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))”; “Offside Front Headlamp aim too low will not adjust (4.1.2 (a))”.
R413 BND Mileage History
- 12/02/202465,088 mi
- 23/02/202465,141 mi+53 mi
- 19/02/202566,880 mi+1,739 mi
- 19/02/202674,768 mi+7,888 mi
- 20/02/202674,768 mi
Average of roughly 4,783 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Volkswagen Volkswagen Passat Mk5 (B5)
Our database tracks 6 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Good
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1998 model year cars.
- Cambelt changes due every 60,000 miles on belt-driven petrol and TDI enginesSerious
RAC's B5 used guides give the same instruction twice: on the 1997-2000 cars, new cam belts are due every 60,000 miles so check the work has been done, and on the 2000-2005 cars it is important to check the belts have been changed on the nose at that interval. Wikipedia's Passat (B5) engine data shows what is being driven - 1.8T 20v and 2.8 V6 petrols alongside the AHU/AHH 1.9 TDI pump-duse diesels and the later 2.0 TDI - all interference engines where a snapped belt means valve damage. On a car this cheap, the belt is the single most common reason a good Passat gets written off.
- High-mileage driveline wear: CV joints and boots, plus 4MOTION Torsen systemsModerate
RAC's B5.5 used guide tells buyers to check the CV joints and boots on higher-mileage cars, alongside confirming the power steering pump works and the air conditioning is fully gas charged. Wikipedia's engineering history for the same car explains why the four-wheel-drive examples deserve extra attention: the 4WD version was introduced in 1997 as an option on the 1.8, 2.8 V6, 1.9 TDI and 2.5 V6 TDI, used a second-generation Torsen T-2 centre differential and gave those cars fully independent rear suspension instead of the front-drive torsion beam. Grease-throwing split boots are the cheap fault; a binding driveline or worn differential is the expensive one.
- Plenum Chamber Scuttle Drain Blockage and Cabin Floor FloodingSerious
Beneath the windscreen scuttle panel sits the battery, brake servo, and pollen filter housing. Two small rubber drain grommets underneath the battery tray and brake servo frequently clog with leaf litter and road silt. During heavy UK rainfall, water pools in the scuttle and rises until it overflows into the cabin through the degraded foam seal of the pollen filter housing or ECU wiring box. Water gathers in the passenger footwell where the Comfort Control Module (CCM) and loom splices reside, corroding wiring and disabling windows, central locking, and alarm circuits.
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