Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Daihatsu Extol?

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 Daihatsu Extol?

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 Daihatsu Extol?

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 Daihatsu Extol vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% 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 Daihatsu Extol reliable?

Based on MOT data from 275 vehicles, the 2004 Daihatsu Extol has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.7%, 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 Daihatsu Extol?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Daihatsu Extol are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.1% of vehicles), Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (55.3% 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 Daihatsu Extol?

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.

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Daihatsu Extol (2004)

275 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Daihatsu Extol

CarHunch analysed 275 real MOT records for the 2004 Daihatsu Extol. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 Daihatsu Extol has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73%, which is 7 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests above-average wear and tear for its age. More concerning, 28% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history, well above the typical threshold, so a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is essential.

At 62,718 miles on average, these cars have covered reasonable mileage for a 20-year-old vehicle, but they're racking up 3.84 failures per test and 16.3 advisories, indicating persistent issues across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before committing to one, have a full diagnostic run and specifically check the brake, steering, and suspension components that are likely driving the high failure rate.

We have limited data for the 2004 Daihatsu Extol — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

75.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.84

Over 14.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

61k

Middle half: 43k–78k

For context

These stats describe 275 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 275 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 61.1%

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

Exhaust & emissions 55.3%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · …

Other issues 33.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Brake wear 27.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively · Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively

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

Wipers & washers 20.9%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 275 Daihatsu Extol cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Daihatsu Extol

Based on MOT data from 275 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28% 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 (99%)	271	75.9%	3.83

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,118 Daihatsu Extol vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 59.2%

662

Silver 21.3%

238

Blue 18.5%

207

Green 0.5%

Cream 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Daihatsu Extol 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.

61,006

typical

42,856

low mileage

77,635

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Daihatsu Extol vehicles fall between 42,856 and 77,635 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 42,856 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.

✓ 42,856–77,635 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Daihatsu Extols sit.

⚠ Over 104,807 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Daihatsu Extol — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2004 Daihatsu Extols are still active.

Numbers are declining — 46 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% 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

14.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.84

Avg failures per vehicle

16.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Daihatsu Extol: All Extol years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Daihatsu Extol stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing