2004 Fiat Motor/Caravan — MOT failures & pass rate
300 MOT tests on the 2004 Fiat Motor/Caravan are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. That is 8.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.3%) and brakes (8.7%) 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, service brake performance and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 26 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.3% in 2021 to 19.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 34 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 26 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 20 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 13 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.3% | 7 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 21 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 13 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 5 | Wipers | 10 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
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 | 21.3% | 64 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 59 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 50 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.7% | 32 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 27 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.0% | 24 |
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 | 169 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 80 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 58 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 58 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 52 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 58 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Motor/Caravan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Suspension (6.7% 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.
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 Motor/Caravans pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 300 2004 Fiat Motor/Caravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Motor/Caravan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.7%).
Does the 2004 Motor/Caravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 30-60k band to 21.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 300 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.