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

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 Fiesta Zetec?

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 Fiesta Zetec?

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.

Is the 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec reliable?

Based on MOT data from 607 vehicles, the 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec?

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 Fiesta Zetec (2004)

607 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79% first-time pass rate

2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec

CarHunch analysed 607 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2004 Fiesta Zetec is significantly less reliable than the UK average: a 51.2% first-time pass rate trails well behind the 80% benchmark, and none of the 214 petrol examples in this cohort passed their MOT on the first attempt—a major red flag. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from the dataset, so what's failing tends to be correctable rather than structural.

At around 106,000 miles, these cars have genuinely high mileage for their age, which partly explains the struggles: average vehicles are racking up 0.67 failures per test, suggesting wear-related issues rather than design flaws. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, exhaust, and cooling system components—these older Fiestas typically fail on those areas—and assume you'll need repairs within the first few months of ownership.

The 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (79%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

First-time pass

79%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.67

Over 2.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

106k

Middle half: 85k–123k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

These stats describe 607 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.

Average reliability — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 607 Ford Fiesta Zetec cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec

Based on MOT data from 607 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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
Other (64%)	388	78.8%	1.05
Petrol (35%)	214	—	0

Colour Breakdown

Based on 20,026 Ford Fiesta Zetec vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 20.5%

4,100

Blue 19.7%

3,947

Black 16.7%

3,347

Silver 16.1%

3,218

White 15.6%

3,122

Grey 6%

1,209

Green 3.7%

746

Bronze 0.5%

109

Yellow 0.5%

Brown 0.2%

Orange 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec 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.

105,629

typical

85,479

low mileage

123,052

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec vehicles fall between 85,479 and 123,052 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 85,479 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.

✓ 85,479–123,052 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetecs sit.

⚠ Over 166,120 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 Fiesta Zetec — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 13% of 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetecs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 44 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (13% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* 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

2.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.67

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2005 2006 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Ford Fiesta Zetec stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?