2004 Toyota Surf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 426 MOT tests, the 2004 Toyota Surf recorded a 77.7% pass rate. That is 5.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 9.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, ball joint and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 31 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 61 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.9% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 34 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 13 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 22 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 15 |
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 | 40.8% | 174 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 106 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.9% | 106 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.4% | 91 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.3% | 61 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 41 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 120-150k | 75 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 320 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 109 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 86 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 58 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 50 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Surf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
- Brakes (8.0% 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.
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 Surfs pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 426 2004 Toyota Surf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Toyota Surf?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.9%).
Does the 2004 Surf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 120-150k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 426 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.