2004 Maserati Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Maserati Coupe passed 85.8% of its 894 recorded MOT tests. That is 13.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (4.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — steering rack alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Coupe fails 12.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.8% | 52 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 39 |
| 3 | Steering | 3.5% | 31 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 28 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.4% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering rack | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 26 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 23 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 15 |
| 6 | Wipers | 13 |
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 | 23.8% | 213 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.1% | 153 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.8% | 150 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 56 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 47 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 37 |
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 | 56 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 443 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 333 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 50 | 16.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 189 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 194 | 14.4% |
| 2023 | 183 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 169 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 159 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (3.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£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 Maserati Coupes pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 894 2004 Maserati Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Maserati Coupe?
Brakes, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.4%).
Does the 2004 Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 894 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.