2004 Hyundai Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
3,324 MOT tests on the 2004 Hyundai Coupe are in this dataset, and 66.8% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), the 2004 Coupe comes out 10.9pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 21.6% of tests against 15.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 464 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 41.3% versus 10.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.2% in 2021 to 30.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 21.6% | 718 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 518 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 410 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.0% | 398 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 313 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 210 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 464 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 269 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 221 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 208 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 204 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 197 |
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 | 42.3% | 1,407 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.5% | 981 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 872 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.9% | 762 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 537 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.0% | 532 |
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 | 64 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 534 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,190 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 996 | 37.9% |
| 120-150k | 397 | 37.5% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 41.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,118 | 34.2% |
| 2022 | 785 | 33.5% |
| 2023 | 601 | 33.4% |
| 2024 | 470 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 350 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 21.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (21.6% 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 (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.3% 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+.
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 Hyundai Coupes pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 3,324 2004 Hyundai Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Hyundai Coupe?
Brakes, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.6%).
Does the 2004 Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 41.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,324 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.