volkswagen
Monday, 22nd of March 2010
Polls
Search
2004 volkswagen transporter reviews
volkswagen transporter reviews by year of make: 1994 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 T30 Read all reviews
The Volkswagen Transporter offers high level cab comfort with many seating, heating, storage and entertainment features. An impressive standard safety package means you can rest assured the Transporter's occupants and load will be safe.
Billy Grady, England
Volkswagen Transporter 174 tdi 2004
I’ve had my t5 174 tdi 6 years now. I bought it from new and the water pump went at 30k, this was done under warranty in its 2nd year. Now it has 152k on the clock and it’s starting to show its age. 1st, clutch went, no warning whatsoever it just felt like every gear was neutral, 675 quid. 2nd, nearside drive shaft, again no warning, it just snapped at the boot, 272 quid but did that myself. 3rd, gear box, it hasn’t quite gone yet but it’s going to very soon, struggle to get it in 1st gear and it crunches like hell when trying to get it in 6th. Am not knocking the van at all, I drive it hard and quite surprised it hasn’t gone wrong sooner. Bit pricey on the parts/repairs but as they say, "nothing lasts forever" and "all good things come to an end". Its earnt its money and I’d have another.
Submitted: 02/03/2010 20:41:31
Stephen Griffiths, Carmarthenshire
Volkswagen Transporter t30 1.9 2004
What can I say? I have always bought Volkswagen and this is my first Transporter. After all the hype of the vans I thought I couldn’t go wrong. But since owning the vehicle I have had the pressure house from the intercooler blow off, all tyres have at some point worn in one place like they are bulging (baffled the guys at my local tyre place). I bought the van when it was 4 years old (70k with 12 month warranty), only they never put it on the system as having a warranty. 2 weeks ago the fly shattered taking the clutch and all other clutch related parts with it. Fly wheel seems to be a very problematic part, these should never go before about 200k but VW reckon they don’t last much longer. They tried to charge me £175 for picking up the vehicle from the motorway. Anyway, 2 weeks later I am still struggling and fighting the warranty on this as the parts alone are up to £900 plus the splines on the drive shaft have gone. 4 hours to find the fault at £50/hour plus a further 6 hours to fix. I need to buy a new van and with the VW being so costly I will definately think again, may even consider a Ford, yes, things are that bad.
Submitted: 23/09/2009 09:33:51
Mick Ash, Nottinghamshire
Volkswagen Transporter 174 Panel Van 2004
Quite simply the worst van I have ever owned. If anyone is contemplating buying one, please do some research on the web first. 42 days at the dealer in 3 years. Faults include - turbo, ecu, water pump, flywheel, clutch, gearbox. The final straw was a driveshaft stripping its spline without warning 100 miles from home, requiring a return trip on the back of a recovery vehicle (for the first time in over 30 years of driving). All the above faults are known weaknesses on the 5 cylinder variants (again, dont take my word for it- ask one of the mechanics at the main dealer. It is not a question of if it is going to let you down, it’s when). Decent van centres are few and far between; my local one, who seemed to cause as many problems as they cured, have thankfully closed down.
Submitted: 04/09/2009 10:51:26
Tim Davies, Carmarthenshire
Volkswagen Transporter 104bhp 2004
Has anyone got any ideas what it could be? I have recently bought a t5 with 175k on the clock. It has been in the garage for a good seeing to - cam belt, filters change etc. After the engine has warmed up an a longish journey (after approx 1hour) the engine starts losing power and juddering, it then stops as if it clears and may not happen again for sometime. Has anyone got any ideas what it could be?
Submitted: 22/06/2009 15:31:01
Alan Harvey, Kent
Volkswagen Transporter t5 /t30/i.9/swb 2004
Hi, I love my Transporter but had the same problems as Jodie in Devon - offside drive shaft spline failed at 50,000 miles. I bought a new drive shaft for £150+VAT. I hope it will be OK.
Submitted: 06/05/2009 11:52:46
Lynnette Charles, Wrexham
Volkswagen Transporter 2004
I think that these cars are pretty good. I would recommend them to any one that I now and they would see where I am coming from. They are a good work horse and I have use them for a while now and had no problems. So, that is why I would recommend it to anyone.
Submitted: 19/03/2009 10:05:17
Col, Derbyshire
Volkswagen Transporter t30 130bhp 2004
Bought new on a 04, it runs fully loaded constantly full of tools, it grips over fields and winds down country roads like a train, pulls trailers excellently, current problem is when you hammer it and it decides 2000 rpm is enough, just a quick off-on and its away again, yes I had the gearbox problem at 12000, couldn’t select reverse when stationary, VW did this free of charge. I have finally found the latest Goodyear tyres don’t blister, they do actually wear out, mechanic fitted from new 8000 miles and all four where blistered, "not a tyre problem though!". It drives like a car not a heavy van. I love it, we have a 06 Vito all I can say is - don’t knock the VW until you have tried one. It would get stuck in a puddle, unlocks doors if it feels like it, loves engine oil, needs two people to lift front electronic windows, seats are like a park bench. Remember accountants design and build new vehicles, not engineers.
Submitted: 16/02/2009 09:49:37
Nicole Haywood, Aberdeenshire
Volkswagen Transporter T5 2004
My partner and I have had our T5 for 3 years, it was bought 2nd hand with 79,000 on the clock from a VW dealer and it is now sitting at 170,000. All that we have had to replace is the Water Pump and Altenator. To be honest the van has never needed anything else. Thank you our trusted T5 xx
Submitted: 02/02/2009 10:54:58
Malcolm Reynolds, Kent
Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 swb tdi 2004
Bought new 53 plate from Ashford Kent main dealer who are less than useless. Recalled for steering rack safety mod within weeks, now judders at low speed! Engine refuses to do over 2000 revs in 2nd gear at random times! Loads of bits fall off, for example, passenger window winder, driver’s door handle etc... rear spring broke. I am an electrician and carry light loads only - at the 1st MOT VW said it needed new pads AND DISCS! At 30,000 miles local garage said discs still fine at 65,000! Heater pipes to dash/windscreen seem to have become loose as poor demisting and dashboard top gets unbelievably hot! Traction control is bl@@dy dangerous - wet road, T-junction, up slight slope, CANNOT pull away without locking TC button out as brakes grab and release alternate wheels causing van to jump up & down. VW say nothing wrong! Lately ABS light comes up and stays on until ignition turned off and on again, VW say can’t happen! Couldn’t believe a modern van costing £13,000 + tax comes with cassette/radio, manual windows/mirrors and a handbreak that can’t hold it on a hill! Plus side, comfortable driving position... good handling... was hoping van would last another 3 years until I retire but worried it won’t!
Submitted: 19/01/2009 09:31:23
Dave Todd, England
Volkswagen Transporter 2004
Bought my T26 in 2004 and have covered 34000 miles now and must say this is superb. Apart from the steering problem in the early days and the usual brake light switch replacement the van is all I expected from VW. Cannot agree with some of the previous comments about the T5.
Submitted: 20/10/2008 10:53:23
Dean Olley, Northumberland
Volkswagen Transporter t5 2004
BEWARE; do not buy the t5 Transporter, I’ve had my t5 for just over a year and I’ve had 2 alternators; 3 fan belts; the heater’s and coolers don’t blow or clear the condensation from windows; the gear knob split and came off in my hand; I had to glue it back on; the drink’s holders fell to bits (they wouldn’t glue back together). The driver’s door handle cover keeps falling off and to cap it off I’m told today that I’m looking at a new gearbox - teeth have sheered off the main drive. This van has done 80k but light work; I honestly thought that when I bought a t5 I had made a good choice... HOW WRONG I WAS TO BUY A VW T5! I couldn’t wait to get rid of my Vito but would swap it back for this pile of crap straight away.
Submitted: 01/10/2008 09:15:24
Paul M, Sussex
Volkswagen Transporter 2004
I got my T5 August 2008, was at first very happy. But as time has gone on I’m becoming increasingly unsure. I got it from a massive garage in Sittingbourne, obviously I cannot say their name, but i would not go back. The bloke said to me they don’t need cam belts until 100,000, I then found out its 60,000. I wanted a van I didn’t have to spend loads on. Too late I suppose. Anyway, its going in for a service, and cam belt. I already have the squeak in the dash previously mentioned, the rear door lock does what it wants when locking, the van judders when steering; when idling and the vents in the dash don’t blow cold, as the dials are knackered. Not the sort of thing you expect from a 54 reg vehicle. And I have found this all out in ten days, so what’s left to come. Seriously doubt the build quality with these new t5’s, I really do.
Submitted: 24/09/2008 10:32:27
Murray Clash, Hampshire
Volkswagen Transporter 104ps 2004
absolute pile of cra* !!!!!! i have had to many problems to list but main one is flywheel and gearbox , i have had 3 replacements already which were carried out under warranty however it has just gone again outside warranty so i have been given a big repair bill ( currrently being disputed with vw customer care ) i would seriously urge any one looking to buy a t5 to look at something else i have spent hours in the garage with this van and now have so many bits falling of i have got to the point where i superglue them back on myself, from a really pi**ed of plumber.
Submitted: 01/08/2008 09:44:37
Ronnie Barker, Pembrokeshire
Volkswagen Transporter T30 SWB 2.5 tdi174 bhp 2004
What can I say... Bought mine 3 years ago 2nd hand from a VW dealership. Until this year/last month it’s done well. With 69K on the clock now, just had a new water pump, new starter motor and new clutch.... Due the high performance of the van (174 bhp), VW have done some fancy stuff with the fly-wheel (Duel-mass or something similar) to get the power output. So if you have a T5 2.5tdI (130 or 174) and it starts juddering whilst pulling off in 1st of reverse, be warned - it will cost you a hefty repair bill.
Submitted: 25/07/2008 11:38:52
Ken Cole, Hertfordshire
Volkswagen Transporter T30 130 BHP 2004
I have 26,500 miles on clock, the vehicle has failed its second MOT on front n/s shock absorber. The van still looks like new but I’m not a happy self employed joiner.
Submitted: 10/04/2008 08:47:08
Paul Davies, Cheshire
Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 tdi t28 104 2004
Fantastic to drive great comfort eats the miles effortlessly! But starting to have doubts about its reliability and ruggedness. My vehicle has done 65000 miles bought new in 04 mostly motorway work light loads not thrashed is currently in a thousand bits with gearbox failure and has been for two weeks waiting for a 4th gear to arrive! Asking at 3 service centers why it should get stuck told it was a mystery and that it is normally the 6 speed box that gets stuck in first and second, is this a common fault perhaps? While the gearbox is out I am fitting a new clutch as everything on this van takes so long to do. The dashboard has developed an annoying squeaking which I am still trying to stop . This is a long term project for me one day to be turned into a camper van so I hope nothing else major occurs! Great to drive not so sure about reliability not something I would thought I would say about VW as I have owned several and also run an LT!
Submitted: 27/03/2008 17:00:29
Jon Cosican, England
Volkswagen Transporter T26 1.9 tdi 2004
I have owned 3 of these VW vans in the past 10 years, they have all been great. Unfortunately though the ALL NEW T5 VW Transporter is a disaster it has broken down 5 times now and has been towed back to the dealership. The faults i am having are not isolated they are becoming more common now there are more of these vans around and some are reaching 4 years old with high mileage. The faults i have experienced are expensive to repair and even though VW have admitted they are due to faulty parts they will not replace them now i am 3 weeks out of warranty. The problems i have had include the entire range not just the T26. This is a great van; i have never been so comfortable sat in my van waiting for the AA to recover me from the hard shoulder of the M1. If you want a van you will love for 2 years and loath for the rest of the time you own it, buy a VW T5 Transporter.
Submitted: 11/02/2008 10:50:30
Search Reports by Make
Aixam-Mega | Alfa Romeo | Aston Martin | Audi | Bentley | BMW | Cadillac | Caterham | Chevrolet | Chrysler | Citroen | Daewoo | Daihatsu | Dodge | Elettrica | Ferrari | Fiat | Ford | Honda | Hummer | Hyundai | Infiniti | Isuzu | Iveco | Jaguar | Jeep | Kia | Lamborghini | Land Rover | LDV | Lexus | Lotus | Maserati | Mazda | Mercedes-Benz | MG | Micro-Vett | Mini | Mitsubishi | Nissan | Peugeot | Piaggio | Porsche | Proton | Renault | Reva | Roewe | Rolls-Royce | Rover | Saab | Sakura | SEAT | Skoda | Smart | SsangYong | Subaru | Suzuki | Toyota | TVR | Vauxhall | Volkswagen | Volvo |
CarAndVanAuctions.co.uk | CarSupermarkets.co.uk | TheVanWebsite.co.uk | SaveMoneyOnCars.co.uk | ContractHireAndLeasing.com | FleetDirectory.co.uk
WinACarCompetition.co.uk | TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk | CarLeasingCompanies.co.uk | RoadTestReports.co.uk
CarLeasingSpecialOffers.co.uk | VanLeasingSpecialOffers.co.uk
