2004 Daihatsu Copen — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,683 MOT tests, the 2004 Daihatsu Copen recorded a 74.1% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Copen comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 12.5% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 351 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.3% once past 90-120k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.5% | 210 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 143 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 142 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 111 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.0% | 84 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 81 |
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 | 351 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 123 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 92 |
| 4 | Wipers | 77 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 76 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 67 |
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 | 27.0% | 455 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 431 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.4% | 293 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 231 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 112 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 87 |
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 | 154 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 692 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 650 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 178 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 358 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 362 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 357 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 320 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 286 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Copen
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.5% 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 (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.4% 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+.
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 Copens pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 1,683 2004 Daihatsu Copen MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Daihatsu Copen?
Suspension, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.5%).
Does the 2004 Copen get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,683 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.