2004 Dodge Ram — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Dodge Ram passed 85.3% of its 712 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 13.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and brakes (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 30 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 30-60k band and 19.2% in the 150k+ band, a 12.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 24.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.2% in 2021 to 16.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 66 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 48 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 40 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.0% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 30 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 22 |
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 | 24.7% | 176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 168 |
| 3 | Steering | 11.8% | 84 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 64 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.8% | 63 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 61 |
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 | 89 | 6.7% |
| 60-90k | 196 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 165 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 602 | 15.8% |
| Diesel | 101 | 7.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 136 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 148 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 142 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 143 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ram
On a 2004 Ram, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Dodge Rams pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 712 2004 Dodge Ram MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Dodge Ram?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2004 Ram get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 30-60k band to 19.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 712 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.