2004 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 74,445 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Vauxhall Astra, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.5% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.7% in the 150k+ group versus 20.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 14,884 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 10,596 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.3% | 9,133 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 6,337 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 4,980 |
| 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 | 5,280 |
| 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% | 31,904 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.6% | 25,798 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.1% | 22,377 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.3% | 15,140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 14,239 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.5% | 13,024 |
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 | 19,770 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 22,783 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 13,851 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 8,662 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 59,324 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 15,110 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,852 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 17,918 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 13,878 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 10,770 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 8,027 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Astra
Before buying a 2004 Vauxhall Astra, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.0% of tests for this year.
- 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 74,445 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 74,445 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.