2004 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Ford Mondeo passed 69.6% of its 34,769 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.8%) and brakes (14.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and rbt (sp) — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 2,423 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.6% in the 0-30k band and 34.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (32.2% vs 29.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 46.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 29.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 5,482 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 5,149 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 4,923 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 2,707 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 2,297 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.8% | 2,023 |
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 | 2,423 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,994 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 1,958 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,689 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,687 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,375 |
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 | 46.8% | 16,276 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.2% | 12,939 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.3% | 9,843 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.8% | 7,576 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 5,321 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.5% | 5,034 |
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 | 163 | 16.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,915 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,549 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 9,587 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 8,430 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 8,077 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,165 | 29.1% |
| Diesel | 14,602 | 32.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,268 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 8,403 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 6,451 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 4,946 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 3,701 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Mondeo
On a 2004 Mondeo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (14.8% 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 (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Mondeos pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 34,769 2004 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Ford Mondeo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (14.8%).
Does the 2004 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,769 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.