2004 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 102,203 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Toyota Yaris, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 73.0% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (70.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.6% in the 150k+ group versus 17.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 22,288 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 12,191 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 11,119 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 7,824 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 5,308 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 4,804 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 11,159 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 8,463 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 7,213 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 6,667 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5,378 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 5,144 |
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 | 43.0% | 43,932 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.7% | 31,370 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.8% | 27,335 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 20,042 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 14,755 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 12,562 |
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 | 2,668 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 17,230 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 31,027 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 28,900 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 14,813 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 7,317 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 94,814 | 26.8% |
| Diesel | 7,378 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,970 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 23,019 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 20,458 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 17,816 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 14,940 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Yaris
Before buying a 2004 Toyota Yaris, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Suspension (10.9% 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.
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 Yariss pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 102,203 2004 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 2004 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 102,203 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.