2004 Daihatsu Charade — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Daihatsu Charade passed 71.1% of its 2,626 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 29.6%, so the 2004 Charade sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.9% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, ball joint and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 283 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 40.0% versus 16.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.9% | 443 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 280 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 242 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.9% | 207 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 177 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 174 |
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 | 283 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 187 |
| 3 | Wipers | 166 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 135 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 122 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 110 |
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 | 42.7% | 1,122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 692 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.0% | 631 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 465 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 333 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 296 |
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 | 236 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,106 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 920 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 310 | 35.5% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 40.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 708 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 624 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 513 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 441 | 29.7% |
| 2025 | 340 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Charade
On a 2004 Charade, 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Daihatsu Charades pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 2,626 2004 Daihatsu Charade MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Daihatsu Charade?
Suspension, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.7%).
Does the 2004 Charade get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 40.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,626 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.