Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci (2004)
2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci
CarHunch analysed 148 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 2004 Fiesta TDCi has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 57.6%, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals reliability concerns worth taking seriously. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this cohort, so you're not looking at inherent safety risks, but rather issues that will likely cost money to fix.
These vehicles are sitting at 133,000 miles on the median, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're still accumulating 0.65 failures per test—suggesting wear-related problems are the main culprit rather than early design flaws. Before buying one, budget for repairs and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the diesel engine and common wear items, because this generation simply doesn't hold up as well as the model average.
What to check before buying a 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci vehicles fall between 109,186 and 154,368 miles.
2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Ford Fiesta Zetec Tdci?
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