2004 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Vauxhall Corsa passed 67.9% of its 83,279 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.1% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.9%) and suspension (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — joints alone was recorded 7,049 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.4% in the 0-30k band and 35.5% in the 150k+ band, a 10.1-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (34.1% vs 32.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 31.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 14,069 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 13,274 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 11,056 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 9,827 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 6,414 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.8% | 5,661 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 7,049 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6,558 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 5,927 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 5,188 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 5,157 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 3,916 |
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 | 31.4% | 26,125 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.3% | 25,194 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.6% | 24,692 |
| 4 | Other defects | 22.9% | 19,033 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.5% | 17,883 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 19.7% | 16,436 |
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 | 3,143 | 25.4% |
| 30-60k | 17,497 | 28.4% |
| 60-90k | 30,311 | 32.3% |
| 90-120k | 21,937 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,084 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,950 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 77,531 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 5,748 | 34.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,072 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 20,396 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 15,523 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 11,693 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 8,595 | 31.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Corsa
On a 2004 Corsa, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.9% 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 (13.3% 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 Corsas pass their MOT?
67.9% of the 83,279 2004 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by suspension (15.9%).
Does the 2004 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 0-30k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 83,279 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.