Daihatsu Copen (2004)
2004 Daihatsu Copen
CarHunch analysed 675 real MOT records for the 2004 Daihatsu Copen.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2004 Daihatsu Copen's 77.8% pass rate sits just below the UK average of 80%, which is nothing alarming on its own—but the fact that 23% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point is a genuine red flag for buyers and warrants a careful pre-purchase inspection. With nearly four failures per vehicle on average and a median mileage of just 42,150 miles, these cars are accumulating problems faster than you'd expect for their age and use.
The high advisory count of 16.8 per vehicle suggests wear across multiple systems rather than one dominant issue, which is typical for a now-20-year-old sports car that's often been thrashed. Before buying, insist on a full service history check and have a specialist inspect the suspension, electrical gremlins, and weathersealing around the convertible roof—these are the areas where Copens commonly pile up advisories.
The 2004 Daihatsu Copen passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (78.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.
These stats describe 675 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 675 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
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 675 Daihatsu Copen cars.
Before you buy a 2004 Daihatsu Copen
Based on MOT data from 675 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
23% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 665 | 78.9% | 3.67 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 2,417 Daihatsu Copen vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Daihatsu Copen 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.
Half of all 2004 Daihatsu Copen vehicles fall between 31,089 and 55,471 miles.
2004 Daihatsu Copen — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 42% of 2004 Daihatsu Copens are still active.
Numbers are declining — 225 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2004 Daihatsu Copen stacks up against a rival.