2004 Fiat Ulysse — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 485 MOT tests, the 2004 Fiat Ulysse recorded a 64.3% pass rate. That is 8.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (21.0%) and lighting & signalling (20.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 69 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Ulysse fails 35.7% of the time in the 60-90k band and 35.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 21.0% | 102 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 101 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 83 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 52 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.1% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 69 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 45 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 36 |
| 5 | Washers | 33 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 33 |
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 | 35.0% | 170 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.0% | 170 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.8% | 159 |
| 4 | Other defects | 22.3% | 108 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.2% | 103 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.4% | 94 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 84 | 35.7% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 37.5% |
| 120-150k | 144 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 322 | 34.5% |
| Petrol | 156 | 37.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 183 | 39.3% |
| 2022 | 118 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 86 | 34.9% |
| 2024 | 53 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 45 | 40.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ulysse
On a 2004 Ulysse, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (21.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.1% 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 Ulysses pass their MOT?
64.3% of the 485 2004 Fiat Ulysse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Ulysse?
Brakes, recorded in 21.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (20.8%).
Does the 2004 Ulysse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 35.7% in the 60-90k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 485 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.