2004 Hyundai Trajet — MOT failures & pass rate
684 MOT tests on the 2004 Hyundai Trajet are in this dataset, and 68.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Trajet comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.9%) and lighting & signalling (18.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, stop lamp and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 82 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.1% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.8% 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 | Suspension | 19.9% | 136 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 123 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 81 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 50 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 82 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 45 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 45 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 41 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
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 | 35.8% | 245 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 242 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 191 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.5% | 147 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 131 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 114 |
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 | 50 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 171 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 250 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 120 | 41.7% |
| 150k+ | 85 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 428 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 256 | 34.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 240 | 34.2% |
| 2022 | 161 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 117 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 94 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 72 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Trajet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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 Hyundai Trajets pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 684 2004 Hyundai Trajet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Hyundai Trajet?
Suspension, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.0%).
Does the 2004 Trajet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.0% in the 30-60k band to 34.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 684 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.