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B491 FTU

1985 Volkswagen Jetta

Red Diesel 1570cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Sep 2026
Tests8 (7 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate87.5%

Mileage

123,983 mi
Last recorded123,983 miles
Recorded on23 Sep 2025
Typical for 1985 Volkswagen Jetta83,467 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationB491 FTU
MakeVolkswagen
ModelJetta
Year1985
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,570cc

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 1 fail
Pass 23 Sep 2025 123,983 miles

Front Upper Macpherson strut damaged but not seriously weakened both sides (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 16 May 2024 121,241 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Upper Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has slight wear or free play, both sides

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn both sides (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 16 May 2023 116,284 miles

Front Upper Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has slight wear or free play, both sides

Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn both sides (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 12 Mar 2022 111,481 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 27 Feb 2021 104,720 miles

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

Offside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 22 Feb 2021 104,720 miles

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

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

Offside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 30 Oct 2019 100,253 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2018 99,464 miles

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

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Jetta?

Based on 438,127 MOT tests across 37,562 vehicles.

76.7%
Pass Rate
7,762
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
37,562
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,560
coil spring broken 4,403
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 3,922
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,404
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,196
Full Volkswagen Jetta reliability report

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B491 FTU is a 1985 Volkswagen Jetta in Red with a 1,570cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87.5%.

Across all 1985 Volkswagen Jetta models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.7% with a typical mileage of 83,467 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Jetta fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 8,560 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B491 FTU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Jetta typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 41 years old, this Volkswagen Jetta is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B491 FTU?

You can check the full history of B491 FTU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B491 FTU registered?

B491 FTU is a 1985 Volkswagen Jetta, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is B491 FTU safe to buy?

The MOT history for B491 FTU shows 8 tests with a 87.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B491 FTU 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 B491 FTU. 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.