2004 Vauxhall Tigra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,011 MOT tests, the 2004 Vauxhall Tigra recorded a 68.8% pass rate. That is 8.8 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests against 12.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and rbt (sp) — coil spring alone was recorded 148 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.3% versus 26.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.6% | 314 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 248 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.1% | 224 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 155 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.5% | 151 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 137 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 148 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 95 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 92 |
| 4 | Joints | 91 |
| 5 | Wipers | 88 |
| 6 | Washers | 81 |
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 | 41.8% | 841 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.4% | 591 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 531 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.3% | 468 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 396 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 313 |
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 | 86 | 26.7% |
| 30-60k | 313 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 770 | 32.3% |
| 90-120k | 572 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 150 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 644 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 511 | 33.9% |
| 2023 | 387 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 266 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 203 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Tigra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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 Tigras pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 2,011 2004 Vauxhall Tigra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Vauxhall Tigra?
Suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.3%).
Does the 2004 Tigra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.7% in the 0-30k band to 35.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,011 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.