2004 Volkswagen Touran 2.0L Diesel · SW04 HSG

The 2004 Volkswagen Touran currently holds no valid MOT after failing its May 2026 test at 101,261 miles. The maintenance trend is clearly worsening. A vehicle that sailed through a clean pass in March 2024 at 95,423 miles deteriorated into six identified defects within two years. The tester flagged an inoperative offside rear parking brake, a dangerously incorrect nearside headlamp aim, and a cut rear tyre exposing ply or cords. Both front shock absorbers are weeping oil, indicating degraded seals. The emissions test could not even be completed, suggesting a potential engine management fault or a blocked DPF. This is a marked decline from the stable condition recorded in 2024. The mileage profile tells a story of very light use. At roughly 4,603 miles per year over 22 years, this Touran has covered just over 101,000 miles. The annual tests show a consistent but low accumulation rate, jumping from 76,355 miles in March 2022 to 88,608 miles in March 2023, then to 95,423 miles in March 2024, and finally to 99,164 miles in May 2025. This is not a high-mileage vehicle. The defects present are therefore less about consumable wear from driving and more about age-related deterioration from sitting idle. Long periods of standing cause rubber bushes to perish, seals to dry out, and brake components to seize. A buyer must treat the front suspension as a priority. The recurring advisory for light oil misting on both front shock absorbers appeared in both the 2025 and 2026 tests, suggesting the units are weeping rather than catastrophically failed but are overdue for replacement. The rear suspension has a history of corrosion and worn bushes, with the 2023 test noting corroded rear suspension arms and worn pin bushes on both sides. While the tester deemed the corrosion not seriously weakened at that time, a physical inspection underneath is essential to check for any progression of structural rust, especially on the rear subframe and inner wing seams. The inoperative offside rear parking brake and the unreadable emissions demand immediate diagnostic attention. A binding or seized caliper, a snapped cable, or a collapsed brake hose could be the cause. The emissions failure points to a deeper engine or exhaust issue that a simple service may not fix. Before any purchase, have a specialist compression-test the engine, inspect the exhaust system for leaks, and verify the parking brake mechanism. The cut tyre and broken washer are minor fixes, but the suspension and brake faults indicate this car has been neglected during its light use.