2004 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,480 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Ford Ranger, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.4% was in line with the average for pick-up trucks of a similar age (70.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.2% in the 150k+ group versus 16.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 3,084 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 2,205 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.8% | 1,998 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.8% | 1,715 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 873 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 427 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,534 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,314 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,187 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 1,151 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,046 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 736 |
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% | 5,439 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.1% | 4,792 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.6% | 3,702 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.9% | 2,736 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 2,210 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.2% | 2,198 |
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 | 83 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 629 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,949 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,739 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,854 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,213 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,080 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 3,502 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 2,853 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 2,208 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 1,837 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ranger
Before buying a 2004 Ford Ranger, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.2% 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+.
- Brakes (13.8% 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.
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 Rangers pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 14,480 2004 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Ford Ranger?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (15.2%).
Does the 2004 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,480 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.