Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Daewoo Nubira?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Daewoo Nubira?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Daewoo Nubira?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Daewoo Nubira vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Daewoo Nubira reliable?

Based on MOT data from 931 vehicles, the 2004 Daewoo Nubira has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Daewoo Nubira?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Daewoo Nubira are: Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (78.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (72.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.5% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Daewoo Nubira?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Daewoo Nubira (2004)

931 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.1% first-time pass rate

2004 Daewoo Nubira

CarHunch analysed 931 real MOT records for the 2004 Daewoo Nubira. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Daewoo Nubira's first-time MOT pass rate of 70.1% trails the UK average by nearly 10 percentage points, which is a meaningful reliability concern. More troubling is that nearly a quarter of these vehicles (23.6%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, suggesting buyers should budget for thorough pre-purchase inspections and factor in potentially higher repair costs.

These Nubiras average around 54,000 miles—reasonable for a 20-year-old car—yet accumulate 3.85 failures and 13.7 advisories per test, indicating pervasive wear across multiple systems. Before purchasing one, have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, steering, and suspension closely, as the frequency and severity of failures suggests these are the likely weak spots.

The 2004 Daewoo Nubira has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

70.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

23.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.85

Over 12.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

51k

Middle half: 39k–65k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 13.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 931 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 931 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 78.6%

Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Nearside Headlamp aim too low · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Tyre wear 56.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 46.1%

Oil leak

Brake wear 35.9%

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 23.4%

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 931 Daewoo Nubira cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Daewoo Nubira

Based on MOT data from 931 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	928	70.1%	3.84

Colour Breakdown

Based on 18,633 Daewoo Nubira vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 30.8%

5,745

Green 28.8%

5,361

Blue 15.4%

2,867

Red 15.4%

2,866

White 4.9%

909

Black 2.3%

426

Grey 2.2%

409

Brown 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Daewoo Nubira vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

50,803

typical

39,184

low mileage

65,082

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Daewoo Nubira vehicles fall between 39,184 and 65,082 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,184 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 39,184–65,082 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Daewoo Nubiras sit.

⚠ Over 87,860 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Daewoo Nubira — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 2004 Daewoo Nubiras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 40 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (7% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.85

Avg failures per vehicle

13.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Daewoo Nubira: All Nubira years → Which year to buy? →

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005

Or browse all models: Daewoo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Daewoo Nubira stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on