2004 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,930 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Toyota Hilux, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 70.4% was in line with the average for pick-up trucks of a similar age (70.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.3% in the 150k+ group versus 15.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 1,848 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 1,520 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 1,396 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.9% | 1,384 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 560 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 512 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 812 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 781 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 705 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 653 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 653 |
| 6 | Joints | 644 |
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 | 39.8% | 3,947 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.2% | 3,295 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.8% | 2,964 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.5% | 1,538 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 1,359 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 958 |
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 | 85 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 355 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 780 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,714 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,155 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,838 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,860 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 70 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,437 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 2,262 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 1,974 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 1,696 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 1,561 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Hilux
Before buying a 2004 Toyota Hilux, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.1% 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 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 9,930 2004 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by brakes (15.3%).
Does the 2004 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,930 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.