2004 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Vauxhall Movano passed 70.8% of its 1,421 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 29.9%, so the 2004 Movano sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (18.0%) and lighting & signalling (17.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 150 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.0% | 256 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 247 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 152 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.9% | 112 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 93 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.1% | 87 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 150 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 99 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 89 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 83 |
| 5 | Wipers | 78 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 75 |
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 | 36.0% | 511 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.1% | 400 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 267 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.2% | 258 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.9% | 254 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 211 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 80 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 151 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 284 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 307 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 577 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 315 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 295 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 279 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 269 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 263 | 31.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Movano
On a 2004 Movano, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (18.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 Vauxhall Movanos pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 1,421 2004 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Vauxhall Movano?
Brakes, recorded in 18.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.4%).
Does the 2004 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.8% in the 30-60k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,421 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.