2004 Fiat Scudo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Fiat Scudo passed 67.2% of its 3,806 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.8%) and lighting & signalling (17.6%) 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, joints and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 614 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Scudo fails 32.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.8% | 716 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 671 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 622 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.0% | 419 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 265 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.7% | 216 |
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 | 614 |
| 2 | Joints | 328 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 257 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 231 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 224 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 217 |
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 | 34.4% | 1,309 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.3% | 1,229 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 1,026 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.8% | 943 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.4% | 929 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 777 |
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 | 417 | 32.6% |
| 30-60k | 96 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 340 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 652 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 611 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 621 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,183 | 34.1% |
| 2022 | 964 | 33.5% |
| 2023 | 713 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 524 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 422 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Scudo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.8% 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 (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.3% 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 Scudos pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 3,806 2004 Fiat Scudo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Scudo?
Suspension, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.6%).
Does the 2004 Scudo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,806 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.