2004 Peugeot Expert — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,219 MOT tests, the 2004 Peugeot Expert recorded a 66.8% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.2%) and lighting & signalling (18.4%) 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, joints and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 938 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Expert fails 34.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.2% | 1,000 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 962 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 846 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.2% | 586 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 403 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 317 |
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 | 938 |
| 2 | Joints | 448 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 445 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 391 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 324 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 314 |
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 | 34.7% | 1,813 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.6% | 1,651 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 1,462 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.0% | 1,410 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.6% | 1,337 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 1,097 |
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 | 480 | 34.8% |
| 30-60k | 114 | 29.8% |
| 60-90k | 306 | 27.5% |
| 90-120k | 744 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 926 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,220 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,705 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 1,341 | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 1,002 | 33.1% |
| 2024 | 682 | 33.9% |
| 2025 | 489 | 32.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Expert
On a 2004 Expert, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.2% 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 (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.2% 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 Peugeot Experts pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 5,219 2004 Peugeot Expert MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Peugeot Expert?
Suspension, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.4%).
Does the 2004 Expert get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,219 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.