2004 Fiat Hymer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 498 MOT tests, the 2004 Fiat Hymer recorded a 79.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 7.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.0% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 29 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 40.0% versus 16.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 60 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 40 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 15 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 18 |
| 3 | Wipers | 18 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 18 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 15 |
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 | 21.9% | 109 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.5% | 82 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.4% | 62 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 57 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 54 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.2% | 51 |
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 | 193 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 179 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 40.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 94 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 99 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 90 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 97 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Hymer
On a 2004 Hymer, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (4.8% 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 Fiat Hymers pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 498 2004 Fiat Hymer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Hymer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2004 Hymer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 30-60k band to 40.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 498 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.