2004 TVR Tuscan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 259 MOT tests, the 2004 TVR Tuscan recorded a 92.7% pass rate. That is 20.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.4%) and visibility (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 9 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.9% in 2021 to 5.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 14 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 8 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 6 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 3 | Washers | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 5 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 13 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.1% | 8 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 7 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.9% | 5 |
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 | 126 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 104 | 3.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 50 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 50 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 52 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 51 | 5.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Tuscan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (2.3% 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 TVR Tuscans pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 259 2004 TVR Tuscan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 TVR Tuscan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2004 Tuscan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 3.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 259 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.