2004 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Vauxhall Astra passed 70.5% of its 74,460 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests against 14.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8,746 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.0% fail against 31.4% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 74,449 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.9% in 2021 to 27.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 14,885 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 10,599 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.3% | 9,137 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 6,337 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 4,981 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,207 |
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 | 8,746 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 6,441 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,282 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 4,726 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 3,401 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,256 |
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 | 42.9% | 31,908 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.6% | 25,803 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.1% | 22,380 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.3% | 15,140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 14,241 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.5% | 13,026 |
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 | 936 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 7,710 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 19,779 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 22,786 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 13,854 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 8,662 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 59,336 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 15,113 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,853 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 17,920 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 13,882 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 10,774 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 8,031 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (12.3% 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.
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 Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 74,460 2004 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2004 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,460 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.