2004 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 78,437 MOT tests, the 2004 Honda Jazz recorded a 73.2% pass rate. That is 2.4 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,611 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.7% versus 13.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 13,003 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 9,780 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.5% | 8,999 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.5% | 5,891 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 4,894 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 4,022 |
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 | 5,611 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,904 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 4,815 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 4,802 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4,085 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3,962 |
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 | 41.4% | 32,516 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.7% | 31,895 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 21,905 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.7% | 17,806 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 10,424 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.1% | 9,520 |
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 | 1,612 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 12,439 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 24,704 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 23,408 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 11,932 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 4,320 | 33.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 78,395 | 26.8% |
| Diesel | 42 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,164 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 17,303 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 15,741 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 14,123 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 12,106 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Jazz
On a 2004 Jazz, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.5% 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 (11.5% 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 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 78,437 2004 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by brakes (12.5%).
Does the 2004 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 33.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 78,437 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.