Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Ford F150?

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 Ford F150?

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 Ford F150?

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 Ford F150 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 Ford F150 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 141 vehicles, the 2004 Ford F150 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.8%, 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 Ford F150?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Ford F150 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (27.4% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (24.6% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (20.6% 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 Ford F150?

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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Ford F150 (2004)

141 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Ford F150

CarHunch analysed 141 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford F150. 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 Compare Models

The 2004 F150 passes its first MOT at 81.2%, just above the UK average of 80%, but a concerning 26.2% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point—well above typical thresholds and a genuine red flag for any prospective buyer. This suggests mechanical issues that go beyond cosmetic wear, and you should factor in potential remedial costs.

These F150s are averaging 76,153 miles, which is moderate for a 20-year-old American import, though they're racking up an average of 2.41 failures and 12.9 advisories per test. Before buying, obtain the full MOT history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, steering, and braking systems, where dangerous defects most commonly crop up on vehicles of this age and type.

We have limited data for the 2004 Ford F150 — 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

81.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.41

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

63k

Middle half: 38k–94k

For context

These stats describe 141 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 141 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 27.4%

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

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

Other issues 24.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Tyre wear 19.8%

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

Suspension & steering 18.1%

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint · Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint · Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 13.3%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog 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 141 Ford F150 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Ford F150

Based on MOT data from 141 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.2% 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 (91%)	129	82.1%	2.24

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Ford F150 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.

62,676

typical

38,149

low mileage

94,325

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Ford F150 vehicles fall between 38,149 and 94,325 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,149 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.

✓ 38,149–94,325 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Ford F150s sit.

⚠ Over 127,338 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Ford F150 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 67% of 2004 Ford F150s are still active.

55 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 67% of the peak remain.

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

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.41

Avg failures per vehicle

12.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford F150: All F150 years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Ford F150 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing