2004 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
19,358 MOT tests on the 2004 Honda Accord are in this dataset, and 73.2% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,857 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.3% in the 0-30k band and 30.5% in the 150k+ band, a 5.2-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.1% fail against 29.5% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 19,358 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 3,746 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 2,558 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 1,762 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 1,214 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 1,183 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,083 |
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 | 1,857 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,653 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,575 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,214 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,141 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 794 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.3% | 8,386 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 5,566 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 5,391 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.4% | 4,330 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 2,679 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 2,314 |
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 | 25.3% |
| 30-60k | 677 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,479 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 4,675 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 5,082 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 6,318 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,099 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 4,259 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,343 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 4,437 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 3,790 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 3,155 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 2,633 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Accord
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.1% 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.
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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 19,358 2004 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2004 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,358 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.