2004 Maserati Quattroporte — MOT failures & pass rate
311 MOT tests on the 2004 Maserati Quattroporte are in this dataset, and 80.4% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (24.4% fail rate), the 2004 Quattroporte comes out 4.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and brakes (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.2% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 34 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 31 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.1% | 19 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.5% | 17 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.9% | 12 |
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) | 22 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 18 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Washers | 13 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 11 |
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 | 19.9% | 62 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 56 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 45 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 15 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.9% | 9 |
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 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 153 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 71 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 62 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 40 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Quattroporte
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% 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.
- Visibility (6.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Quattroportes pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 311 2004 Maserati Quattroporte MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Maserati Quattroporte?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.0%).
Does the 2004 Quattroporte get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 30-60k band to 26.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 311 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.