2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,088 MOT tests, the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser recorded a 68.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.5%) and suspension (17.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 297 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.8% versus 25.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.6% fail against 33.4% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 2,088 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 49.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.3% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 407 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.9% | 374 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.8% | 287 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 158 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.8% | 142 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 110 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 297 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 202 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 173 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 149 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 124 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 121 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 49.0% | 1,023 |
| 2 | Brakes | 41.9% | 876 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.9% | 519 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 436 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 340 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 337 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 51 | 25.5% |
| 30-60k | 231 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 622 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 566 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 396 | 36.4% |
| 150k+ | 201 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,210 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 878 | 33.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 694 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 517 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 396 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 283 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 198 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Pt Cruiser
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruisers pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 2,088 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by suspension (17.9%).
Does the 2004 Pt Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,088 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.