CarVerify

Free Car Check

9696 SM

2003 Volkswagen Golf

Blue Petrol 3200cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Apr 2027
Tests33 (20 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate60.6%

Mileage

81,259 mi
Last recorded81,259 miles
Recorded on16 Apr 2026
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Golf90,330 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

Registration9696 SM
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year2003
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,200cc

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

20 pass 13 fail
Pass 16 Apr 2026 81,259 miles

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Stone chips (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Mar 2026 81,202 miles

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

Nearside Rear Outer Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick On metal (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Stone chips (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Apr 2025 78,162 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Apr 2025 78,162 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Mar 2025 78,026 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

corrosion of n/s and o/s front and rear suspension coil springs

Pass 6 Mar 2024 76,395 miles

Age related corrosion under vehicle

Offside Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Mar 2023 75,730 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2022 74,855 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Slight damage to the outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin Inner pad (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All Rear brakes pipes swollen from alloy corrosion (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 26 Oct 2020 70,593 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2020 70,593 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 24 May 2019 68,013 miles
Fail 23 May 2019 68,009 miles

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

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 31 May 2018 65,264 miles
Fail 29 May 2018 65,763 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Inner cv gaiter splitting and perished

Nearside Front Outer cv gaiter slightly leaking

exhaust front downpipe slight

Pass 23 May 2017 63,305 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rear/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rear/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 23 May 2017 63,300 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake application uneven across the axle (3.7.D.2b)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.D.2c)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rear/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rear/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 24 May 2016 60,512 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement both front (2.4.G.2)

engine covers and undertrays fitted

nail in nearside rear tyre

slight bind to nearside rear brake

Fail 23 May 2016 60,512 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases sleeve is insecure , 1 bolt missing and the other corroded away (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play noisy and feels rough on rotation (2.5.A.3c)

Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement both front (2.4.G.2)

engine covers and undertrays fitted

nail in nearside rear tyre

slight bind to nearside rear brake

Pass 21 May 2015 57,269 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

slight bind to nearside rear brake

Fail 20 May 2015 57,267 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

slight bind to nearside rear brake

Pass 23 May 2014 55,810 miles
Pass 20 May 2013 53,283 miles

nearside front tyre has cuts outer sidewall

Pass 21 May 2012 50,265 miles

offside front shock absorber outer casing is corroding

offside front tyre is wearing inner edge

Fail 21 May 2012 50,265 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

offside front shock absorber outer casing is corroding

offside front tyre is wearing inner edge

Pass 26 May 2011 47,934 miles

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

Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

advise - cuts on o/s/r inner tyre sidewall

Pass 19 May 2010 44,248 miles

advise - cut on o/s/r inner tyre sidewall

Fail 18 May 2010 44,248 miles

Offside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

advise - cut on o/s/r inner tyre sidewall

Pass 15 May 2009 41,031 miles
Fail 15 May 2009 41,027 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Pass 29 May 2008 37,727 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

o/s/f tyre bald on inner edge but good across centre three quarters of tread

Pass 31 May 2007 34,088 miles
Fail 30 May 2007 34,088 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 25 May 2006 29,414 miles

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Golf?

Based on 22,270,993 MOT tests across 1,787,037 vehicles.

74.9%
Pass Rate
6,735
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,787,037
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 700,382
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 301,629
Stop lamp not working 260,234
position lamp(s) not working 257,206
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 229,092
Full Volkswagen Golf 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

9696 SM is a 2003 Volkswagen Golf in Blue with a 3,200cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.6%.

Across all 2003 Volkswagen Golf models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.4% with a typical mileage of 90,330 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 Golf fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 700,382 recorded failures. If you're considering buying 9696 SM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Golf typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 23 years old, this Volkswagen Golf is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 9696 SM?

You can check the full history of 9696 SM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 9696 SM registered?

9696 SM is a 2003 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 29 May 2003.

Is 9696 SM safe to buy?

The MOT history for 9696 SM shows 33 tests with a 60.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 9696 SM 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 9696 SM. 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.