2004 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Honda Stepwagon passed 82.1% of its 563 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Stepwagon comes out 9.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 27.7% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.8% 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 | 16.7% | 94 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 43 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 15 |
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 | 49 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 36 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 31 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.8% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 105 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.9% | 95 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 86 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 36 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.2% | 35 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 93 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 20.9% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 96 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 107 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 144 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 135 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Stepwagon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Stepwagons pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 563 2004 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by suspension (7.6%).
Does the 2004 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 30-60k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 563 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.