2004 Ford F150 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 340 MOT tests, the 2004 Ford F150 recorded an 83.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 F150 comes out 10.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.5% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 30-60k band and 18.7% in the 150k+ band, a 8.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 39 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 24 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 21 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 12 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.1% | 7 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 10 |
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 | 22.9% | 78 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 68 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 44 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 40 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 37 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.8% | 30 |
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 | 79 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 69 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 75 | 18.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 76 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 61 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 64 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 66 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 F150
On a 2004 F150, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% 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 (6.2% 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 Ford F150s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 340 2004 Ford F150 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Ford F150?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by brakes (7.1%).
Does the 2004 F150 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 30-60k band to 18.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340 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.