2004 Daewoo Lacetti — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 538 MOT tests, the 2004 Daewoo Lacetti recorded a 66.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 5.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.9%) and lighting & signalling (15.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 101 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 38.4% versus 28.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.0% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.9% | 91 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 82 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 68 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 10.4% | 56 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 46 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 101 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 45 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 33 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.2% | 216 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.0% | 167 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 156 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.3% | 120 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 104 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.8% | 74 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 198 | 28.8% |
| 60-90k | 214 | 36.0% |
| 90-120k | 73 | 38.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 203 | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 137 | 34.3% |
| 2023 | 92 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 65 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 41 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Lacetti
On a 2004 Lacetti, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% 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 Daewoo Lacettis pass their MOT?
66.7% of the 538 2004 Daewoo Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Daewoo Lacetti?
Suspension, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.2%).
Does the 2004 Lacetti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.8% in the 30-60k band to 38.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 538 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.