2004 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome passed 84.2% of its 297 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 11.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 7.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rbt (sp) and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 18 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 17.1% versus 13.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 43 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 23 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 9 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.4% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 10 |
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 | 33.3% | 99 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.2% | 66 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 31 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.1% | 24 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 19 |
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 | 123 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 88 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 41 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 60 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 63 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 58 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Motorhome
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.7% 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 (3.0% 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 Mercedes-Benz Motorhomes pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 297 2004 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mercedes-Benz Motorhome?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by brakes (7.7%).
Does the 2004 Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 30-60k band to 17.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 297 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.