Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Fiat Idea?

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 Fiat Idea?

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 Fiat Idea?

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 Fiat Idea vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% 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 Fiat Idea reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,038 vehicles, the 2004 Fiat Idea has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.4%, 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 Fiat Idea?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Fiat Idea are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (81.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (81.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (49.6% 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 Fiat Idea?

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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Fiat Idea (2004)

2,038 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Fiat Idea

CarHunch analysed 2,038 real MOT records for the 2004 Fiat Idea. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 Fiat Idea falls well short of the UK average with a 72.4% first-time MOT pass rate compared to 80%, and that gap matters: 37% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see in a used car purchase. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (72.6% and 71.9% respectively), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor here.

These cars are showing their age at around 56,000 miles median, which is reasonable for a 20-year-old, but the average of 4.42 failures per test and 17.7 advisories per vehicle tells you corrosion, wear, and electrical gremlins are widespread. If you're considering one, have a pre-purchase inspection done by someone familiar with Fiats—the high failure rate and dangerous defect frequency mean this isn't a buy-on-luck proposition.

The 2004 Fiat Idea has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.4% 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

72.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

37%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.42

Over 15.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

56k

Middle half: 45k–69k

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 17.7 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 2,038 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 2,038 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 81.8%

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.

Brake wear 37.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Lighting 27.6%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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

Wipers & washers 26%

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

Other issues 23.2%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak

Suspension & steering 20.7%

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush · Offside Rear coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear coil spring corroded

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 2,038 Fiat Idea cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Fiat Idea

Based on MOT data from 2,038 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37% 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 (78%)	1,588	72.6%	4.39
Diesel (22%)	450	71.9%	4.52

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,951 Fiat Idea vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 42%

1,659

Grey 21.6%

855

Red 13.5%

532

Orange 9.6%

380

Black 7.3%

288

Green 3.1%

122

Silver 2.5%

100

White 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Fiat Idea 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.

56,460

typical

44,752

low mileage

68,603

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Fiat Idea vehicles fall between 44,752 and 68,603 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 44,752 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.

✓ 44,752–68,603 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Fiat Ideas sit.

⚠ Over 92,614 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Fiat Idea — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2004 Fiat Ideas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 102 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* 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

15.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.42

Avg failures per vehicle

17.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Fiat Idea: All Idea years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Fiat Idea stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on