2004 Suzuki Jimny — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,624 MOT tests, the 2004 Suzuki Jimny recorded a 73.5% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (28.2% fail rate), the 2004 Jimny comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.7%) and lighting & signalling (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are integral vehicle structure condition, prescribed areas and chassis condition — integral vehicle structure condition alone was recorded 1,115 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.8% in the 0-30k band and 31.0% in the 150k+ band, a 19.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.7% | 1,597 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 1,504 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 1,429 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.3% | 1,408 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,004 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 799 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,115 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 1,057 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 1,011 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 687 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 687 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 671 |
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 | 32.5% | 4,428 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.8% | 4,055 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 2,891 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.8% | 2,147 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.9% | 1,888 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 1,494 |
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 | 270 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,583 | 22.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,355 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,867 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,226 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 310 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,155 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 2,930 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 2,726 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 2,551 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 2,262 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Jimny
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (11.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.5% 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 Suzuki Jimnys pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 13,624 2004 Suzuki Jimny MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Suzuki Jimny?
Brakes, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.0%).
Does the 2004 Jimny get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,624 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.