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

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 Fusion?

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 Fusion?

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 Fusion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% 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 Fusion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 15,288 vehicles, the 2004 Ford Fusion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.3%, 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 Fusion?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Ford Fusion are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (72% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.3% 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 Fusion?

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 Fusion (2004)

15,288 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Ford Fusion

CarHunch analysed 15,288 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford Fusion. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 Ford Fusion falls short of the UK average with a 76.3% first-time pass rate, and one in three of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a significant concern for a buyer. Petrol models fare slightly better at 76.8% pass rate versus 74.6% for diesels, though neither inspires confidence.

At around 60,000 miles median, these Fusions have been run relatively gently for their age, yet they're averaging 4.6 failures per MOT test—well above what you'd expect from a well-maintained example. The 23 advisories per vehicle suggest widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problem areas, so budget for repairs beyond the obvious and check the full MOT history carefully before committing.

The 2004 Ford Fusion has a decent first-time pass rate (76.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

76.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

33.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.59

Over 18.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 46k–76k

For context

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

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 23 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 15,288 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 15,288 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 72%

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 44.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 40.4%

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Lighting 26.1%

Nearside Stop lamp not working · Offside Stop 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 15,288 Ford Fusion cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

76.8%

Petrol

11,592 vehicles

74.6%

Diesel

3,692 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Ford Fusion

Based on MOT data from 15,288 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.3% 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 (76%)	11,592	76.8%	4.48
Diesel (24%)	3,692	74.6%	4.94

Colour Breakdown

Based on 108,841 Ford Fusion vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 32.2%

34,994

Blue 23%

25,067

Black 14.8%

16,158

Grey 11.9%

12,973

Green 9%

9,749

Red 5%

5,485

Purple 1.9%

2,069

Orange 1.8%

1,921

White 0.2%

191

Gold 0.1%

148

Maroon 0%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Ford Fusion 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.

60,168

typical

45,811

low mileage

75,525

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Ford Fusion vehicles fall between 45,811 and 75,525 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 45,811 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.

✓ 45,811–75,525 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Ford Fusions sit.

⚠ Over 101,958 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 Fusion — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2004 Ford Fusions are still active.

Numbers are declining — 3,223 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% of peak).

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

18.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.59

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing