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

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 Stilo?

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 Stilo?

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 Stilo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% 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 Stilo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 10,959 vehicles, the 2004 Fiat Stilo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Fiat Stilo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Fiat Stilo are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (89.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (89.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.7% 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 Stilo?

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 Stilo (2004)

10,959 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Fiat Stilo

CarHunch analysed 10,959 real MOT records for the 2004 Fiat Stilo. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Fiat Stilo is noticeably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 68.7% compared to 80% nationally — and a concerning 32.1% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a significant safety red flag for any potential buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly, both struggling (69.2% and 66.7% respectively), suggesting the problem lies with the model itself rather than fuel type.

At a median mileage of 57,100 for a 20-year-old vehicle, these Stilos have done fairly average miles, yet they're averaging 4.47 failures and 17.2 advisories per test — pointing to widespread wear and systemic weak points rather than just high-mileage fatigue. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and structural integrity, and budget for regular repair work; this isn't a low-maintenance classic.

The 2004 Fiat Stilo has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.7% 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

68.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

32.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.47

Over 13.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

57k

Middle half: 46k–70k

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 17.2 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 10,959 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 10,959 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 89.8%

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.

Lighting 52.2%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Nearside Headlamp aim too low

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

Other issues 37.1%

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

Brake wear 35.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 28.1%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 26.3%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint

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 10,959 Fiat Stilo cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

69.3%

Petrol

8,559 vehicles

66.7%

Diesel

2,395 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Fiat Stilo

Based on MOT data from 10,959 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.1% 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%)	8,559	69.3%	4.31
Diesel (22%)	2,395	66.7%	5.04

Colour Breakdown

Based on 43,661 Fiat Stilo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 28.3%

12,374

Blue 25.7%

11,214

Black 13.3%

5,786

Red 12.4%

5,425

Green 10.8%

4,704

Silver 4.9%

2,159

Brown 2.2%

948

Yellow 1.8%

794

White 0.3%

134

Maroon 0.2%

Purple 0.1%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Fiat Stilo 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.

57,108

typical

45,841

low mileage

69,728

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Fiat Stilo vehicles fall between 45,841 and 69,728 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 45,841 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.

✓ 45,841–69,728 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Fiat Stilos sit.

⚠ Over 94,132 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 Stilo — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2004 Fiat Stilos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 401 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* 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

13.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.47

Avg failures per vehicle

17.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on