2004 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Ford Fiesta passed 72.1% of its 166,798 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.2% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, stop lamp and headlamp aim — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 15,018 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.6% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (30.7% vs 27.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 29,751 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 21,267 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 17,648 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 12,620 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 10,797 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.8% | 9,730 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 15,018 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 13,091 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 9,716 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 8,747 |
| 5 | Wipers | 8,737 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 7,990 |
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 | 37.6% | 62,751 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.9% | 59,840 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 49,348 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.6% | 29,293 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 23,625 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 20,568 |
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 | 3,257 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 23,931 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 48,970 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 51,012 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 27,513 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 11,950 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 151,825 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 14,973 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47,277 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 39,050 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 32,579 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 26,827 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 21,065 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Fiesta
On a 2004 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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.
- Brakes (10.6% 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.
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 Fiestas pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 166,798 2004 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2004 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 166,798 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.