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

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 Ulysse?

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 Ulysse?

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 Ulysse vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% 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 Ulysse reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,645 vehicles, the 2004 Fiat Ulysse has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.2%, 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 Ulysse?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Fiat Ulysse are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (87.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64.4% 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 Ulysse?

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 Ulysse (2004)

1,645 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Fiat Ulysse

CarHunch analysed 1,645 real MOT records for the 2004 Fiat Ulysse. 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 Ulysse is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 69.2% against the national baseline of 80%—a meaningful gap for a nearly 20-year-old vehicle. More concerning, over a third (33.6%) of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during MOT history, which is a serious buyer red flag.

At 88,400 miles median mileage, these Ulysses are relatively worn for their age, and they average 4.36 failures per test visit, suggesting systemic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated issues. The 13.8 average advisories per vehicle confirm that upkeep costs will be substantial; budget for regular repairs and get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on the braking and suspension systems, where dangerous defects cluster on this model.

The 2004 Fiat Ulysse has a below-average first-time pass rate (69.2% 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

69.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.36

Over 13.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

88k

Middle half: 67k–112k

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 13.8 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 1,645 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 1,645 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 87.4%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Tyre wear 71.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 48.1%

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

Wipers & washers 34.9%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid · Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Lighting 20.7%

Offside Registration plate lamp not working

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

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 1,645 Fiat Ulysse cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Fiat Ulysse

Based on MOT data from 1,645 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.6% 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
Diesel (83%)	1,360	69.7%	4.16
Petrol (17%)	283	66.8%	5.25

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,082 Fiat Ulysse vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 37.4%

4,142

Grey 19.7%

2,187

Red 17%

1,880

Green 11.4%

1,259

Black 11.1%

1,225

White 3.1%

342

Silver 0.4%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Fiat Ulysse 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.

88,395

typical

66,646

low mileage

112,376

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Fiat Ulysse vehicles fall between 66,646 and 112,376 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 66,646 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.

✓ 66,646–112,376 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Fiat Ulysses sit.

⚠ Over 151,707 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 Ulysse — Still on the Road

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

Numbers are declining — 58 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

13.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.36

Avg failures per vehicle

13.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on